Syuriani with a fellow teacher during a school programme.
MIRI: Many teachers here have turned to online applications to help pupils continue with their lessons during the movement control order (MCO) period.
SJK Chung Hua Miri Bahasa Melayu and Islamic Education teacher Efniza Narudin uses Google Classroom and WhatsApp to connect with pupils and parents.
“Pupils are encouraged to log onto Google Classroom and some are also using WhatsApp. In my opinion, teaching and learning online may be less suitable for primary school pupils because most of them still need to be guided and, to me, they should be taught face to face.
Ahmad with teachers before the school break.
“For example, there are Malay pupils who do not understand the lessons in Chinese and vice versa. This may also be a challenge for underprivileged pupils who may not have a gadget.
“So in the current situation, parents’ cooperation is essential in helping their children complete homework and studies at home. We really need parents’ help in this to make it work. Some of the revision is also turned into quizzes so that pupils will be more attracted to doing them,” Efniza told thesundaypost yesterday.
SK Jalan Bintang (SKJB) headmaster Ahmad Othman reminded all teachers and staff to adhere to MCO guidelines and keep themselves up-to-date by sharing school-related instructions about the MCO in their parent support or school WhatsApp groups.
“Teachers are also required to provide pupils with any homework online or through Google Classroom and they are also required to follow any instructions by the Ministry of Education (MoE).
“MCO indirectly teaches pupils and teachers about home schooling — virtual learning. MCO also teaches the school to be prepared to face any problems and challenges at any time,” he said.
Ahmad said during the MCO, parents need to be proactive and not to expect the school to be 100 per cent responsible for their children’s education.
“We can see the parents or guardians and school are constantly communicating via WhatsApp and so on to get the latest information and asking about pupil-learning, which is a positive sign.
“However, the problem SKJB or any school is facing now is that there are pupils from less fortunate families. They do not have internet access or facilities that enable them to take up the online learning thus learning through textbooks and by reading, practice, and review is the only way for them,” he said.
Teacher Syuriani Osman Surkarno said teachers will provide pupils with homework based on the textbooks or workbooks through their respective class WhatsApp groups and some teachers provide digital forms of homework, notes, or quizzes using Google Forms.
“Collaboration with parents in ensuring that children complete the tasks provided is crucial. We also remind parents to ensure that their children send their completed homework to the subject teacher when the school reopens.
“Of course online learning has its pros and cons. For parents who are capable and have high speed internet access, learning online is easy for both pupils and teachers because pupils can send their completed homework to their teachers through email.
“However, there are constraints for low-income parents, as it is possible that they do not have high internet speed at their home, or they might not have the gadgets,” she added.
Efniza is seen with a colleague prior to the MCO.