Petronas collaborated with the Sarawak government in 2016 to build a new hostel for students of SK Orang Kaya Muda Pakeri in Paloh, which will provide accommodation for 120 pupils.
KUCHING: Kampung Paloh is a remote coastal village in the Daro District of central Sarawak.
Providing education to the children here, or the neighbouring villages of Kampung Kedang and Kampung Berangan is very challenging.
These areas are cut off from the outside world – with no access roads, limited supply of clean water and electricity. The only access is by river from Sarikei and Sibu towns, and involves a risky journey by speed boat, due to high tides and rough river conditions.
“The boat I was travelling in capsized in the middle of the river once. I was floating in the water for more than half an hour before being rescued, ” related SK Orang Kaya Muda Pakeri, Paloh headmaster Hisyamuddin Ahmad Rani.
Hisyamuddin has been teaching there since 2010 and was appointed headmaster in 2018.
“The lack of roads, electricity and telecommunication hinders progress, especially in education, ” he said.
“The school could not compete with urban schools in the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) due to the lack of basic infrastructure. In the last few years, the village’s average passing rate was only 76%.
He remains optimistic: “Our target is to achieve 80%.”
The high poverty rate also contributed to the poor performance of the students. The majority of the 1, 000 people at Paloh and surrounding villages are fishermen, subsistence farmers and odd-job workers.
First built by villagers back in 1931, SK Orang Kaya Muda Pakeri, Paloh is the only primary school for all the children in Kampung Paloh, Kampung Kedang and Kampung Berangan.
“The beams and flooring were made from nibong trees, while roofs and walls are from nipah leaves.
“Due to severe coastal erosion, the school had to be relocated five times. In the early 80s, the villagers decided to build the school at the current site, some 7km inland from the seaside.
“In 2008 the old classroom blocks were replaced with concrete blocks after the old wooden structure began to collapse, ” said Hisyamuddin.
However, the two old wooden hostels were still not replaced and are dilapidated and overcrowded with 54 boarders.
Bed frames were removed and mattresses were spread across the floor in two rows with boarders who had to sleep alongside one another.
“We have no choice but to turn away many applicants from poor families who live very far from the school.
“We have to give priority to Year Six pupils sitting for their UPSR exam, ” said Hisyamuddin.
Teacher at SK Orang Kaya Muda Pakeri Nur Hayati Hamdin with Year 5 students. The new hostel overcomes the education accessibility issue faced by many students in rural parts of Sarawak due to geographical conditions.
The pressing accommodation issue and the need to encourage students from rural areas to stay within the school prompted Petronas’ management to collaborate with the Sarawak government in 2016, to build a new hostel – the Asrama Harian Luar Bandar SK Orang Kaya Muda Pakeri, Paloh.
“Access to basic education is a challenge for communities residing in remote areas of Sarawak and Sabah, due to geographical conditions, ’’ said Petronas Human Resource senior vice president Datuk Raiha Azni Abd Rahman.
“Petronas is working closely with the state government to support access to education and nurture interest among the young to pursue their studies.”
The hostel is expected to be completed this month, and equipped with male and female dormitories, sick bays, dining hall, kitchen, surau, warden’s house, administration office, toilets and shower rooms.
Among the first to move in are Rosyamizan Rustam, nine and his elder brother Rosyam Rustam, 11, both from Kampung Kedang and are boarders since Year One.
The new hostel will provide a conducive environment to succeed in studies and co-curricular activities.
“Hostels are important for us to focus on the students, and get them involved in co-curricular activities, ” said Hisyamuddin.
Teacher Nur Hayati Hamdin, from Kuching, said students will be motivated to excel following the completion of the school hostel project.
“The new hostel will provide a more conducive learning environment for the students, and I hope they will perform better in their studies from now on, ” she said.
The school parent-teacher association (PIBG) has expressed hope that the new hostel will be a game-changer for the community in Paloh in the field of education and socio-economic development.
