BARAM, Oct 12: In the remote Penan village of Long Jenalong, nestled deep within the Borneo rainforest, a dedicated teacher’s unwavering commitment to educating preschoolers shines as a beacon of hope.
In the heart of the dense Borneo rainforest, where the modern world feels worlds away, an extraordinary teacher is making a profound impact.
Atika Fazila, a devoted educator, has taken it upon herself to provide education to Penan preschoolers in the isolated village of Long Jenalong. Her solo endeavour is not only inspiring the children but also the entire community.
Atika’s day begins with a radiant smile and a warm “Selamat pagi, anak-anak!” (Good morning, children), capturing the hearts of her young charges.
Nevertheless, the challenges she faces are immense, yet her determination remains unyielding. She has created a nurturing environment where Penan preschoolers learn the fundamentals of reading, writing, and numeracy.
“I find it extra challenging when I have a student with special needs. For instance, my former student, now eight years old, has yet to continue his studies. This is beyond my control as I lack expertise in that field.
“Therefore, if I have a special needs student, I must invest more time and energy and control my emotions as they are different from other children. Additionally, the children here rarely speak Bahasa Malaysia, so that is another challenge,” she told TVS during Petronas’ visit to Ulu Baram.
What makes Atika’s journey as a teacher truly exceptional is her ability to single-handedly educate illiterate adults in the village through the “Kelas Dewasa Ibu Bapa Orang Asli Dan Penan” (KEDAP) program, which commenced this year.
Adding that the programme primary goal is to provide illiterate parents with a platform for learning while reducing the illiteracy rate among the Orang Asli and Penan communities throughout Malaysia.
“The participation of parents in KEDAP is amazing, and their attendance at classes are consistently high. This situation will help reduce the gap in the abilities of Orang Asli students compared to regular students,” she remarked.
In a world where education is often taken for granted, Atika expressed her appreciation to Petronas for developing a preschool in the village, paving the way for Penan children and adults to access education.
As such, Atika’s effort serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of a single individual’s passion and dedication, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and the profound change that one person can inspire even in the most remote and underserved communities.
In 2016, Petronas, in collaboration with the Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family, and Childhood Development (KWKPK), came together to bridge the gap and address the pressing need for greater opportunities for Penan children and established five new preschools in the Penan Settlement area of the Apoh-Tutoh region in the Baram District.
The construction of the preschools was completed in 2020 at a cost of RM2.75 million, contributed by Petronas as part of its broader Social Impact program. – TVS.
