READY TO TEACH: A teacher arranging the textbooks before distributing them to the pupils.
SMILES AMIDST ADVERSITY: Pupils reading the national pledge before class started, yesterday.
LAHAD DATU: Norhafida Mekhail was getting worried.
She is already two weeks behind and the Ujian Pelajaran Sekolah Rendah examination is fast approaching.
The 12-year-old is among the 500 evacuees temporarily putting up at the Embara Budi evacuation centre in Felda Sahabat after they were advised to leave their homes when Filipino gunmen were spotted in their villages.
Since the Malaysian security forces and Filipino gunmen conflict began on March 1, Norhafida and her schoolmates at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanjung Labian were denied of formal education.
But all her worries ended yesterday, thanks to the effort by the district education office to set up makeshift schools for displaced children at the three evacuation centres – Embara Budi, Fajar Harapan and Sahabat 7 Cenderawasih.
A total of 251 pupils are benefiting from the programme, and of the number, 54 are at the Embara Budi evacuation centre.
“As much as I miss my school, this, for now, is good enough. At least, we would not be left too far behind on studies,” said Norhafida.
Classes begin at 8am to noon at the makeshift school at the Embara Budi evacuation centre, which was made out of two combined tents with dark-coloured blinds as walls, that could at least shield the children from rain and sun.
“Me and a few friends used to do revisions during the school ‘break’ but it is not the same as attending classes.
“I hope we can return home and go back to school soon, I miss my teachers and friends” said Norhafida, who loves Bahasa Malaysia, Science and Mathematics.
SK Tanjung Labian Senior Assistant of the Student Affairs Unit, Abdul Rasad Lazanah, was one of the six teachers stationed at the makeshift school at the evacuation centre.
“This, by far, is my worst ever experience after 20 years in service. In the past, I only had to deal with natural disasters such as floods or landslide, but never have I ever imagined being in the middle of a conflict,” said the 45-year-old teacher.
Abdul Rasad, who was teaching in Kota Kinabalu, was just transfered to SK Tanjung Labian two years ago.
“The whole incident has taught me a valuable lesson, that as a teacher, we must be ready to teach in whatever conditions and wherever it may be. I am doing this in memory of the fallen heroes as well as those who are risking their lives to protect the people, and the sovereignty of the state and nation.
“To me, this is my contribution as a civil servant. While our security forces are battling against the enemies, my job is to serve the pupils and ensure that they do not fall behind their studies,” he said.
As for his colleague, Sabrie Gadjal, 39, the whole drama has affected him personally, as, he too, is among the evacuees at the Sahabat 7 Cenderawasih evacuation centre.
“I drove out of Kampung Tanjung Labian along with my wife and seven children to Cenderawasih. We only managed to grab our documents,” he said, recalling the fateful day.
Sabrie, who teaches Bahasa Malaysia, Science and Mathematics, said he was happy to get back to work, as he fears that all those ‘rest’ tends to make one lazy.