KUCHING: The Sarawak government has been urged to take immediate action to solve the problem of students in the interior areas who are facing difficulties with home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).
This is because many students still have learning difficulties due to the poor internet connection and even some areas in the state do not have internet networks, said Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) president Bobby William who made the call.
He said not only students were facing such difficulties but even educators in the rural areas were having a hard time to conduct PdPR.
“I have received so many complaints and grievances from parents and also teachers. This situation has caused many students to miss their lessons,” he said on Friday (Feb 5).
Indeed there is no other method that is more suitable to conduct PdPR when the country is hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, he noted.
“But, the state government should be concerned on this matter. I can say that 90 percent of rural students are of Dayak origins and other bumiputeras; therefore it is comfortable for us to see this situation happening? ” he asked.
Bobby therefore recommended to the state government that each school should submit the details of the students who are facing difficulties with PdPR to the district education office. Then the office can refer the matter to the Ministry of Education (MoE).
“PBDSB also recommends that the state government should ensure that every constituency provide aids through its minor rural project (MRP) fund including in the areas of research, internet data, laptop, smartphones and other necessities that are deemed required,” he said.
He also said the State Education Department should release the statistics of students facing problems with PdPR.
“This issue is not only affecting students in the rural areas but also those under the B40 groups in the urban areas,” added Bobby.
