Statelessness is a common issue faced by thousands in Malaysia. While there is an estimated population in Peninsular Malaysia, there is no concrete data on
As schools across Malaysia have reopened for the new year, classes have largely been online due to the current Movement Control Order (MCO) restrictions. Students
Ayu A/P Majid, 25 years old was born in Kampung Chengkelik, R.P.S. Kuala Betis, Gua Musang, Kelantan. Gua Musang is home to a sizable community of Orang Asli’s of which Ayu is one of them. As a young girl, Ayu had very noble aspirations of becoming a teacher. She had pretend play sessions with her friends where she taught them under a tree and her ‘students’ would listen attentively.
Malaysian politician and former Minister for Youth and Sports, Syed Saddiq offered to adopt a new hairstyle on the line to raise funds for less fortunate students in Muar, under his fundraiser programme named “One Family, One Laptop”. This quickly became a hot topic and was more commonly referred to as the #BotakChallenge.
It is not a secret that the digital divide exists between the rich and poor. The consequences of this phenomena already lie in the name. It divides the population into those who are able, and those who are unable to keep up with new social norms in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Malaysia, the education of future generations is always held at a high priority. Yet, not everyone is given equal opportunity. The ‘Orang Asli’ (OA) community is an overlooked minority with 83% of the population still living in poverty[1]. Their lack of advancement can be partly attributed to the fact that opportunities for development and education are not readily available or accessible to many of them.
Meet Teacher Zahir, a 30 year old teacher who have dedicated seven years of his life educating rural students in SK Nanga Entalau in the deep interiors of Sarawak.
Meet Veveonah Mosibin. She unexpectedly rose to fame after climbing a tree to get a good internet connection to sit for her online exams. This driven 18-year-old student from Kampung Sapatalang, Pitas, Sabah captured the whole tree climbing episode on video and it became viral.
Education and poverty are intertwined. Children from low income children are predisposed to various challenges at school and at home, limiting their chances for success in education. The problem becomes more complex when children are born into families without citizenship or national belonging.
Shocking Facts Of Malaysia’s Education Gap. Read our whitepaper to discover more about the education inequality in Malaysia.