Slow and steady: Shi Xian doing her homework while her mother looks on at their home in Johor Baru.
JOHOR BARU: From a young age, Pang Shi Xian, who suffers from a spinal condition that gives her mobility issues, has been dreaming of attending normal classes with her peers.
Her mother Khor Shwu Ling, 56, said the girl’s dream was finally realised when the Education Department accepted her application a few years ago after several attempts.
Khor said her daughter has suffered from spina bifida – a condition that occurs when the spine and spinal cord do not form properly – since birth and was placed in a special needs class from Year One until Form Two.
“She had always wanted to attend mainstream classes like the other children but we knew it was tough because on top of difficulties in walking and standing, she is also a slow learner.
Determined not to give up, Khor and her husband sent their child to tuition to help her learn to read, write and comprehend.
“We were so happy when the department finally accepted her application which allowed her to attend classes like other kids,” the housewife told The Star at their home here.
She said Shi Xian was held back a year – she was placed in Form One at SMK Tun Syed Nasir Ismail – as the department was worried that she could not keep up with the mainstream lessons.
“She did not mind it at all, as long as she got to sit for lessons. She moves around at school in a wheelchair and she has kind classmates who often lend her a helping hand,” she added.
Khor, who used to work in Singapore, said she gave up her career to devote time to her only child when she was six years old as it was getting increasingly difficult for daycare centres to tend to her special needs.
Since Shi Xian was born, the girl had gone through at least five major and minor surgeries to treat her health issues, her mother added.
Now 18 and in Form Four, Shi Xian is intent on completing her secondary school by getting good grades in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination.
Khor said she has been receiving home tuition twice a week sponsored by non-governmental organisation Pusat Kebajikan Kesejahteraan Tebrau Johor Baru.
She added that Shi Xian has taken an interest in economics this year and often talks to her about the subject.
To this, Shi Xian said it is an interesting topic and plans to spend the year-end school holidays reading up about the subject to prepare for the new school year.
“I hope that I can one day complete my studies and have the chance to learn music too.
“I also hope to pick up a skill such as flower arranging so that I can become independent. Who knows, I might even have the opportunity to open my own flower shop in future,” she added.
