Prof Khatijah (standing third from right) with Jungle School project volunteers as well as Orang Asli children in Kampung Sungai Berua in Kuala Berang, Hulu Terengganu. — Photos: Bernama
THE second phase of the Jungle School project by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) in Kampung Sungai Berua, Kuala Berang, is focusing on the mastery of the 3M skills (reading, writing and counting) among Orang Asli children.
Project leader Prof Dr Khatijah Omar said the second phase, which started last April, in collaboration with the Terengganu Education Department aimed at reducing the educational gap among Orang Asli children, with a focus on the incorporation of other 3M elements, namely music, eat, and play.
The second phase involves nine lecturers, including two members of the Unesco grant team, two research assistants, and UMT students as instructors.
They continue the previous informal learning modules, such as “Let’s Go to the Wholesale Market” for Mathematics and “Let’s Go to the Forest” for Science, in addition to Bahasa Melayu and English subjects.
The project was carried out at SK Sungai Berua, Hulu Terengganu.
She said elements of eat, play and music were interspersed between learning sessions to attract the interest of children.
“In the first phase, which ran from August 2021 to July 2023, we focused on engagement, building self-confidence, and sparking interest in learning, with content centred around knowledge of life and nature.
“The pupils’ response at that time was very encouraging, including parents who are usually hesitant to trust outsiders, but they eventually allowed us to conduct this learning activity with their children,” she told Bernama at the school.
Volunteer Dr Siti Nur Adawiyah Azzahra Kamaruddin (right) conducting reading activities with the Orang Asli children.
The deputy director of UMT’s Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (IBTPL) said during the first phase, it recorded the participation of 40 pupils aged between six and 12, with the highest attendance recorded at 38.
Prof Khatijah said it also met the initial target with pupils achieving up to 85% mastery in aspects of nature and life as well as communication according to the Jungle School syllabus.
“ The school teachers also acknowledged that pupils are now more confident to speak in class after the implementation of the project, which is conducted twice a month, depending on financial and teaching situations.
“Because the first phase content leaned towards nature and life, it enabled the Jungle School to be selected as one of the geo-sites in Kenyir Geopark in May last year,” she said, adding that the secondary programme for Form 1 students has been opened at the school.
Using various financial sources, including individual contributions since the first phase, Prof Khatijah said children in Phase Two are classified according to their mastery of the 3Ms, for example level one for those not yet proficient up to level four for those who are fluent readers.
Interestingly, she added that they now have 11 children who are at level four.
“We expect the second phase of the Jungle School to continue until April next year, depending on financial conditions, but funds have been consistently received from individuals and agencies.
“We are also planning for the Digital Jungle School project for phase three, starting in May 2025.
“Exxon Mobile, which also contributes to this project, is working to ensure Internet connectivity by 2025.
“It is time for Orang Asli children to enjoy this too,” she said.
Prof Khatijah also said they were developing modules and gathering strategic partners to start a project with Orang Asli teenagers who had finished school, at the request of the community, by September or October this year.
“The majority of teenagers in Sungai Berua do not continue to secondary school, so it’s good to have a programme for this group too,” she said, thanking the cooperation of various government and private parties, including Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin in Kuala Nerus.
