My son Imran goes to SMTTDI, a public school, very much out of his own choice. It was a deal I striked with him even before he sat for his UPSR. He was begging me not to enroll him at the private school where his brother Ikram goes to, as none of his present friends will be going there to further their secondary education. Friends, obviously, are very important to him.
I told him that he may continue his studies at SMTTDI provided he scored 5As in his UPSR, anything less, he'll be Ikram's schoolmate! He miraculously obtained 5As and I have to keep my promise.
Imran told me that his school has a mixture of students from various economic status. There are the rich from elite Taman Tun Dr. Ismail and the surrounding housing estates, the middle class from Kg. Sg. Penchala, there are also students from rumah Yayasan Anak Yatim, and from the orang asli settlement of Kg. Bukit Lanjan. He tells me a lot of stories regarding his school chumps each time I drive him to and from school.
Imran said, in another class, there is a boy whose name is Johny Bin Ali. At Form one, and after 6 years of primary education, he still cannot read or write. He has no idea which school the boy went to before, because Johny doesn't even speak, except amongst a few orang asli boys who are a little bit better than him. Johny wears a dirty shirt (looks like it has never been washed), a pair of trousers which is full of murals and the teacher said he sleeps all the time in class. The other day, someone must have donated a pair of new school shoes to him. During recess, he shook Imran's leg, pointed to Imran's shoes and to his as well. Imran asked:oh, nak ikat tali kasut? Johny nodded. Imran taught him how to tie the shoelace on one shoe and asked him to try do it for himself on the other.
Johny doesn't get punished for not wearing the school tie, obtains free food from the abang who sells burger and hotdog at the canteen. And, whenever he meets Imran during recess, he indicates his forefinger asking for RM1 to buy drink.
mama:Imran, dahlah, toksah cerita pasal Johny lagi, mama sedih lah! Nah mama bagi extra pocket money for you to donate to Johny.......
Imagine, 10 years from now, what and where will Johny be????.....
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5 comments:
When you open up your eyes and see beyond the scruffy kid, you'll realise that you are very lucky and there are always people worse off than you. Your son Imran sound like an astute boy who realises this. My primary school kids get RM4 a day, sometimes it is enough, sometimes more than enough. They come home and tell me that sometimes they too give some money to friends, some of whom get only RM1 for school money (have you checked out the prices of the food at the school canteens?)
You must be proud of Imran. This is so touching. I hope there will be help from the govt. for the likes of Johnny.
Kak Teh, help from the govt. memang ada tapi hard to reach people like Johny unless the society, the school or TV3 :) takes up the matter.
Imran is a fine young man. Even in my kampung I don't hear such sad story, maybe because our economic gap is not so diversed. So almost everyone will have the same standard, but there? Give Imran a hug and encouragement. He is a real gem in your family.
sob, sob..thanks, auntyn!
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