Parents’ Low Income Affect Pupils’ Academic Performance

Setting: Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) Meeting

Roles:
1. District Department Officer (Humanitarian and Support Service Sector): Sylvia
Shanti a/p Ravichanthiran (DDO)
2. Head of PTA: Visali a/p Vijayaraj (HOP)
3. Teacher Representative: Ilavarasi a/p Vasu (TR)
4. Parent Representative: Shevany a/p R K Anumanthan (PR)

DDO Good morning to the HOP Visali a/p Vijayaraj, TR Ilavarasi a/p Vasu
and PR Shevany a/p Anumanthan. Thank you for organizing this
meeting despite the short notice. The reason why I am here is
because I am very concerned with the number of dropouts in this
school recently. We have just received some data and it showed that
in Sabah alone, there were 6000 dropouts. It is the state with the
highest dropout. I hope to hear from all of you so that we can curb
this issue as soon as possible. May I ask the HOP, whether were
there any complaints made by the parents during the recent
meeting?
HOP Good morning! Actually in the recent meeting that we had, many
parents did not turn up. Reason being that they were very busy
working and they did not have the time to come. However, I did hear
some complaints from them saying that they have financial issues. I
managed to contact a parent and she is here with us today. Perhaps
we could hear from her and have a better understanding of the
problem.
PR Good morning! Thank you for inviting me to join this meeting.
Regarding the meeting the other day, it was not because I did not
want to attend but I have multiple jobs to do to support my children. I
am a single parent and I have six children. I do not have enough
money to provide for their basic needs. These include their food,
clothing and even their school resources.
TR I understand your situation but as a teacher I have to spend a lot of
money because my pupils come to class without their workbooks,
stationaries and some even without their school bag. I really want to
help them to learn like every other child but it is financially burdening
for me if I have to provide all these things for them. There was once
where I provided some stationaries for a particular pupil in my class
but this pupil did not show up after that for about two months. Some
just leave school and I do not see them anymore for the entire year.
HOP That is right. I have received many reports from teachers in this
school regarding the increase of absenteeism cases and even
dropouts. In real fact, pupils’ enrollment in this school has decreased.
The teachers in this school are very worried and they do not know
what to do as this is also affecting school assessment procedures.
DDO This is a very serious issue as by right according to the Education Act
1996, parents must ensure that their child receive primary education.
I heard from the PTA that Madam Shevany, you are one of the
parents concerned whose child did not attend school for almost five
months already. We would love to know what is the hindrance so that
we could help you and give the support that you would need.
PR Truth be told, actually around February this year, I had to ask my
child to stop schooling because the money that I have is not sufficient
 to provide education for all of my children. I asked my child to work
so that he will be able to contribute to the family’s income. By doing
this, my burden will be lesser and thus far we have just enough to
survive. If I were to be given a choice, I really want my child to be in
school so that he would be better than me and not suffer like how I
am now but I just do not have the money.
TR I feel very sorry for you. I am teaching your child and he is actually a
very hardworking boy but sometimes he comes to school looking
very lethargic. I am not sure if you know but he has fainted before
during the school’s assembly. As much as you want your child to get
education, I also want the best for him. Concerning this, I thought the
PTA has provided some funding for low-income families and by right
your child should have also received food support from The
Supplementary Food Programme (RMT).
PR Yes, my child is in the RMT Programme but the food given was not
clean and there was once where he suffered from severe food
poisoning because of the food given. Therefore, I told my son not to
consume the food anymore because I do not have enough money to
pay for his medical fees. Instead he just takes some bread and drinks
plain water. Regarding the money, I am thankful to have received
help from the PTA but the funds given were insufficient to sustain my
child for the entire month. We usually receive an amount of RM100.
HOP Thank you very much for being honest with us, at least now we know
what went wrong. Pertaining the issue with the RMT, I will look into
the matter and discuss with the canteen tender who is preparing the
food. In fact, before this we did receive some complaints from
parents regarding the cleanliness of the school’s canteen food.
Perhaps I could personally come and supervise on the food from time
to time and I can also get help from teachers to monitor.

Regarding the funds, I could get help from Non-Governmental

Organizations (NGO) so that we will be able to get more money to
distribute to the low-income families.
DDO This is a very good initiative from the PTA in this school. Speaking of
that, by right your child should have also received funds from the
government, which is the Kumpulan Wang Amanah. He should have
obtained RM 200 for schooling and RM 300 for general aid. This
should be enough to buy school resources and other basic needs.
PR Actually, I did not receive any funds from Kumpulan Wang Amanah. I
did not even know about the existence of this fund.
DDO This is very surprising. I will look into this matter and I will also get
help from the HOP to find out whether other low-income parents in
this school have received this fund. Knowing this, I also have the
urge to find out if parents from other schools are in the know about
this fund as every year the government will receive a certain
allocation to help support low-income families.
HOP Sure. I will conduct a survey among the low-income parents and
submit the data that you asked for as soon as possible. I think by
doing this, we can make sure that none of the low-income parents
are left out from receiving this aid.
PR Thank you very much. I feel as if half of my burden has been taken
away from me.
DDO How about you Miss Ilavarasi, do you have any suggestions to
overcome this issue?
TR As a teacher, since my husband owns a rental transportation
company, I could get a van for the school at a very reasonable price.
This van will only be used to transport pupils who come from low-
income families and in this way they will not have problems coming to
school. Parents who are working also do not have to worry about
their child’s transportation and safety.
PR I love that idea. I totally agree with you.
DDO I agree with that suggestion as well. Also, I heard there is a hostel
facility in this school, which has not been used for quite some time. Is
that right Miss Visali?
HOP Yes, it has not been utilized for quite some time because we did not
get the approval to run it. We submitted the forms a long time ago but
no action was taken. I think making this school, as a boarding school
would also lessen the financial burdens of low-income parents. Food
and accommodation will be provided and thus the child’s health can
also be taken care of.
DDO I see. When I return to my department, I will check on this and see
what progress has been done so far with the approval of the
proposal.
TR Yes. If pupils can stay in the hostels here, I do not have to worry
about pupils’ attendance. In fact, I can also give them extra coaching
at night and this will certainly help them in improving their academic
performance. There are some pupils who are far behind in their
studies compared to other pupils. Therefore, I think that this initiative
would be very beneficial for them so that they would be able to catch
up with the others and excel in their studies.

In order to ensure that this facility is not misused or gone to waste,

there should be criteria that decide the eligibility of hostel residents.
For example, pupils from low-income families should maintain a
certain level of academic performance to secure their place in the
hostel.
HOP I agree with you. This would also indirectly motivate pupils to work
harder. Parents also do not have to worry about sending their child to
school and they can work without any form of disruption. I hope by
doing this, dropout cases in this school will decrease. We also do not
have to worry about the issue of parents’ low income affecting their
child’s academic performance.
PR Yes. If there were to be a hostel facility, I would definitely send my
son there so that he will be able to focus as well as excel in his
studies and become a successful person in the future. This will
certainly make me proud.
TR I think that the suggestions that we have brought up today would
certainly help in overcoming the issue. At least after this, I do not
have to burden myself financially anymore to provide for my pupils. I
hope that actions will be taken as soon as possible.
DDO Yes, indeed. I have written down the things that we have discussed
today. Additionally, I have a suggestion to propose which I feel would
help Madam Shevany especially. The Ministry of Education is
actually planning to have Training and Employment Program (PLKK)
for low-income parents who are very skillful but perhaps may not
have had the opportunity to obtain high level of education. In this
programme, skill training will be given. For example like tailoring,
cooking and even handicraft.
HOP Yes, I have heard of this programme too. Skill training is also
available for men. For example, motor mechanics, electrical and
even tourist driver. This will certainly help increase family incomes
quickly and independently. I think you should join this programme
Madam Shevany. Also, I believe that many other low-income parents
who are in this school would also benefit from this.
PR This is a very interesting program. I love tailoring actually, even
cooking. Sure, I will certainly enroll myself into this program. I am
sure that I will be able to upgrade my skills and after this I do not
have to work multiple jobs anymore. In this way, I can also spend
time with my children and help them in their education.
TR Yes, one of my friends joined a program like this before and she was
able to gain a lot of income as compared to her previous jobs. She
was able to support her children’s academics and they are all doing
very well right now in school.
DDO That is good to hear. I think we have had a very insightful meeting
today. I noticed that many low-income parents staying around this
area are actually not aware of the funds that the government have
actually prepared and allocated for them. Perhaps in my next visit, I
could put up some posters and have a talk with the parents so that
they would be more in the know.
HOP I agree with you. I think we were also able to identify the root cause
of dropouts in this school. Before this, even though we knew that
parents did make some complain about having financial issues, we
did not know the intensity and the severity of the problem and how it
has also affected the teachers in this school. I hope that with the
suggestions that we have proposed today, we will be able to achieve
zero dropouts in this school very soon.
TR I am equally glad that we had a meeting today. I am looking forward
for the positive changes that will take place in this school.
PR Thank you very much for inviting me. I did not know who to go to
when I was facing financial issues. I guess I came to the right place
and the right people. Thank you once again.
DDO I also find this meeting very productive. I will look into the matters that
we have discussed today and I will get back to the HOP. Thank you
for having me today, I guess we could call it day.
ALL Yes (shake each others’ hands and leave)