Recommendations to resolve children’s educational rights issues include:
(i)
Online learning was not applicable to Sarawak - due to the nonavailability of internet access, relevant gadgets and electricity supply,
and difficulty of getting reliable internet coverage over vast areas;
(ii) The Government must explore other methods of teaching and
learning. Alternatively, the Government should invest in internet
facilities and provide financial assistance for all students, especially
the underprivileged students. Companies are encouraged to practise
corporate social responsibility (CSR) by taking up the Sarawak
government’s proposal to build towers for internet connection;
(iii) Teachers and students may conduct learning and teaching through
radio, telegram, and WhatsApp. During the 1950s, radio was used to
deliver lessons to students in Malaysia and Tibet.
(iv) RTM should explore other options, including expanding TV and Radio
Pendidikan coverage to remote areas in Malaysia;
(v) There is a need for new policy and guidelines for Alternative Learning
Centres and Community Learning Centres to operate effectively. This
includes the government’s recognition and acknowledgement of
the system to enable stateless children to gain proper education;
(vi) The Kampung Marak Parak villagers reported that there was no
secondary school in Marak Parak. The closest secondary schools are
SMK Kota Marudu I and SMK Kota Marudu II, which are approximately
40km from their village. The children have to live in hostels or travel
a distance to reach the secondary school, and have to bear the
additional cost incurred;
(vii) There are insufficient secondary schools in Kota Marudu. For example,
SK Langkon has to share a school with SMK Langkon;
(viii) Research the implications of caning and assess its damage in
correcting children’s misconduct;
(ix) The culture normalising caning within our education system should
not be prolonged as children will not understand and learn through
violence;
(x) Corporal punishment is not the best solution to overcome bullying as
‘violence begets violence’;
(xi) Victims may be traumatised and suffer the effects of bullying and
caning. Everyone should empathise with the victims, understand the
implications of bullying and find ways to overcome the issue.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2020