Orang Asli pupils skip school as SK Tohoi tragedy fears linger

The Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) will continue to persuade the Pos Tohoi Orang Asli community to send their children back to school.

Jakoa director-general Hasnan Hassan said a total of 74 students have still not reported to school even though it had been a week since the new school session began.

"However we are thankful the number has increased to 115 students compared to 99 when the session started.

"SK Tohoi has 189 students and most of them live in the villages of Penad, Gawin, Simpor, Sedal, Dangdut, Halak, Rekom and Jader and the distance to school is a problem for them, he told reporters after visiting SK Tohoi today.

Also present were Kelantan/Terengganu Jakoa director Nik Man Nik Ya and Gua Musang District education officer Muhammad Zahari Othman.

Hasnan said he had instructed Jakoa and Education Department staff to visit the villages to coax the parents into persuading their children to return to school.

When asked about Norieen Yaakob, 11, and Miksudiar Aluj, 12, who had still not reported at school, he said the two students had been given the privilege to report to any school of their choice including SK Kuala Betis.

In August last year, seven SK Tohoi students left their school hostel as they feared punishment after bathing in a river without permission.

After almost 50 days only Norieen and Miksudiar were found alive on the river banks in the forest. The remains of the others except for one have been recovered.

- Bernama