CHAPTER 1 - REPORT OF THE EDUCATION AND PROMOTION WORKING GROUP Therefore, the Commission visited several schools and settlements to observe the conditions. The visits were held in collaboration with the DoOAA, MoE, UPSI, Institut Aminuddin Baki and the Teachers Training Institute. (iii) Discussions with the indigenous community, the school authorities and local agencies revealed that: • The MoE’s ‘Clean Water Supply’ project to rural schools had failed to provide clean water in the Batang Padang and Hulu Perak districts. • 24-hour electricity supply had failed due to problems with the grid (wiring), generator (faulty or insufficient fuel supply) or solar hybrid system (failure to accommodate school’s needs). • The roads connecting rural areas were not well maintained, leading to vehicles breaking down and endangering the safety of students and teachers. • The hostel at SK Bidor did not have wardens, leaving the watchman to look after 130 students at night. • The hostels at SK Bidor, Batang Padang; SMK Tengku Kudin-Raub; and SMK Sultan Idris, Hulu Perak were crowded and lacked comfort and safety. The supply of basic needs was poor. • The alternative curriculum that was to have been implemented in certain schools had either not been carried out or was not being carried out properly. Moreover, most schools have ceased to implement this curriculum due to ambiguity in instructions from the agencies responsible. The Commission found that new teachers had not been properly trained on how to teach using this curriculum; in fact the teaching equipment for Year 4 students had not been provided until late August 2010. The Commission was informed that the curriculum will be replaced with a model which closely resembles the mainstream curriculum. (iv) Follow-up meetings The Commission found that certain issues highlighted during the discussions had yet to be rectified: 26 • Children were still not attending school because there was no facility near their settlement. • There were transportation problems in Pahang and Perak.