Sabah teacher goes the extra mile to feed her pupils

 

English teacher Sunita Vincent has gone out of her way to help students and poor families in Kudat. (Sunita Vincent pic)

KUDAT: With most families in lockdown, students who would normally be attending classes in school have to turn to online learning. This, theoretically, should not be a problem as long as every child has access to a digital device and the internet.

The truth is, however, that access is a privilege.

In rural Sabah, children have little means of acquiring a device, much less internet connectivity. And with the movement control order (MCO) and school closures, many in these areas are left with no way to continue their education.

This was observed by Sunita Christine Vincent, a teacher with 20 years’ experience who was transferred to a school in Kudat in February to teach English. The ensuing lockdowns meant that classes had to be conducted virtually.

“Only five to seven pupils out of 32 would actively join the online sessions every day. I learnt it was almost the same scenario with classes for the other subjects,” Sunita tells FMT.

Sunita giving food to one of her pupils, many of whom lack the means to participate in online learning. (Sunita Vincent pic)

She decided to look into why the kids were absent. The reason was sobering – their parents were mostly farmers, labourers and fishermen who earned little even before the pandemic. With the lockdowns, many of them were out of work, which meant the children had no access to online-learning tools.

“When the third phase of online learning was introduced, I decided the best option would be to provide hard copies for the students,” Sunita recalls.

Despite the remoteness of their homes, she visited the children personally to hand out prepared modules, and even gifted biscuits and healthy drinks to lift their morale.

It was no easy task as the distribution had to be done with strict distancing procedures in place and at different times of the day, sometimes even at night. “Some of them live almost 20km away,” she adds.

Sunita’s friends and family have been vital to her efforts, as have been several NGOs that provide her with food aid to be distributed.

With sources of income cut off, many families are facing food insecurity. (Sunita Vincent pic)

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed by the locals, either. As many residents in Kudat are of the lower-income group, pleas for help began to reach Sunita’s ears.

She now provides food for the needy and helps around 200 households.

“But it’s not enough,” she laments. “People can’t work during the MCO, and a 5kg bag of rice can only last for about a week in a family of five to six people.”

According to her, unlike in West Malaysia where there are more food banks and soup kitchens, rural Sabah lacks these initiatives.

It does not help that the remoteness of the region makes it hard for people to travel around, complicating the logistics for food aid to be sent to those who need it.

Still, this has not stopped Sunita’s plans to establish a soup kitchen in her school, one that would operate even after the pandemic is over.

“Once things are back to normal, the plan is to ensure all pupils are fed before they go home, so they get at least one proper meal a day.”

She says some of her students get by on plain rice mixed with salt and water, while others subsist on a single cup of coffee.

Sunita has helped provide food aid to almost 200 hungry families. (Sunita Vincent pic)

Up to her own devices

Sunita also aims to set up proper internet connection in her school to allow pupils to enjoy the full benefits of a 21st-century classroom, and hopes to provide them with digital devices.

“With the current situation and the rate of vaccination, it looks like online learning will be extended for some time,” she reflects. “Even I have yet to be vaccinated as I am on the waiting list.”

She appeals to anyone who can help her with this effort. “Many people change handphones like clothes these days. If anyone has a spare phone that is not in use, it would make a huge difference in the lives of these poor students.”

In the meantime, Sunita has been helping to pay for supplies and necessities as she believes it is the humane thing to do. “How can one rest peacefully when another human is suffering? I imagined how it would be if my children were in a similar situation.

“I have had my own difficult moments and I know how it feels to have little.”

Sunita hopes more people will step up to help the rural folk in the heart of Sabah. (Sunita Vincent pic)

While more could be done to uplift the poor in rural areas, she acknowledges those who are making the effort to help others during this difficult time.

“It is so heartwarming to see the spirit of Malaysians who have answered the slogan ‘kita jaga kita’ and have come to help each other during this time,” Sunita says.

“It is my greatest hope that anyone who reads this, and has the means, will come forward to help these poor students who are the future of our country.” - FMT