KLUANG – A single mother juggles her online business and her seven children’s home-based teaching and learning sessions by sharing the family’s only smartphone.
Umi Naza Osman, 36, said as there is only one device, her children take turns using it, resulting in their e-learning sessions being interrupted when the sessions overlap.
From her eldest child, who is in Form Five, to her youngest, a 4-year-old in nursery, all follow the new learning module using the single smartphone.
Umi Naza said sometimes her children’s learning sessions are cut off when customers contact her to place orders for sweet potato chips or banana chips, which are her main source of income.
“I am worried when my children cannot concentrate due to interruptions caused by sharing the device, or when there are calls to place orders for my chips.
“It’s not that I don’t want to buy another phone, but I have other pressing needs, including paying RM300 a month for rent,” she told reporters at her residence in Kg Rahmat, Sri Lalang, near here.
She said all seven of her children need a smartphone as classes are now being conducted online due to the implementation of the movement control order.
Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, who met Umi Naza at her residence today, donated two smartphones to the family.
The transport minister said he hopes that the devices will facilitate the children’s e-learning sessions, and allow the mother to make full use of her phone for her business. – Bernama, February 8, 2021
