Fund for Tenom underprivileged kids
Published on: Monday, July 15, 2019
By: Mail Mathew
TENOM: A Tabung Pendidikan Anak Pangi (Tapai) has been set up by SK Pangi, near here, in an effort to prevent underprivileged children from being left out of school.
School Headmaster Azlan Salim said the idea was conceptualised on Feb 9 last year, following a consensus between the school, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and local community.
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He said Tapai, chaired by him, is operating as an organisation, with participation from teachers, members and the local community.
“We look into various issues, challenges and educational constraints in the village, especially since this school is located in the interior where most parents are from needful families,” he said.
He said Tapai was an effort to develop human capital among the underprivileged, adding the local residents also needed a holistic approach to ensure the village’s potentials and environment can benefit from the setting up of Tapai.
“Kampung Pangi is located 13km from Tenom town and is linked by rail that only operates twice a day, which is among factors contributing to development constraints in the area,” he said.
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He said they would also look into how Tapai can be used to boost the ecosystem potential in the village, adding they hope to make the school a tourism school jointly managed by the local community to preserve its beauty that can be developed through the tourism sector.
He said part of the funds collected from the various packages offered will go to Tapai, adding that this will also open up job opportunities for the local community, especially youths, in generating daily income.
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Besides financial donations, he said, the public can also donate items such as reading materials, reference books and school equipment, or even volunteer to give tuition classes in subjects such as the English Language, Science and Mathematics.
He said the area also offers numerous attractions especially for extreme sports lovers who enjoy activities like white water rafting, bamboo rafting, exploring the Pangi waterfall and camping outdoors.
“We hope this effort will boost tourism in the village,” said Azlan, who also expressed hope for co-operation from the local community, non-governmental organisations and private companies in developing the area into an attractive tourist destination.
Meanwhile, Kemabong Assemblyman Jamawi Jaafar, together with those from the Kemabong Community Development Leader Unit, Tenom District Headmaster Council, Sabah Government School Teachers Association (KGKS) and Tenom Warisan Wira, took time to visit the area.
“This is a creative and innovative effort which needs to be taken as an example by other schools in Sabah,” said Jamawi, adding it is a proactive step that can help boost the nation’s education and ensure rural students are not left out.
Jamawi, who is also the Kelab Penyokong Kerajaan Chairman, said the effort taken by SK Pangi and the local community is a paradigm shift to strengthen the education quality without merely depending on the Government.
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