online classes Ahmad Sabri Alin, his wife Latipah Zokafli and their children during the home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) at their home in Petaling Perdana, Selangor. PIX: AFFAN FAUZI / MalaysiaGazette / 06 JULY 2021
Ahmad Sabri Alin, his wife Latipah Zokafli and their children during the home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) at their home in Petaling Perdana, Selangor. PIX: AFFAN FAUZI / MalaysiaGazette / 06 JULY 2021

By Kamariah Khalidi

PETALING JAYA – Not everyone can afford to do home-based teaching and learning (PdPR). Six siblings who reside at Pangsapuri Petaling Perdana have no choice but to share two electronic devices for their PdPR since last year.

Their mother, Latipah Zolkafli, 45, shared their experience and confessed that the family had faced various challenges since the introduction of PdPR.

Latipah has also grown immune towards the reprimands from the teachers when her children are often late for their virtual classes or have no chance to attend their classes.

   Interview with Latipah Zokafli on how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected her family at her house in Petaling Perdana, Selangor.     PIX: AFFAN FAUZI / MalaysiaGazette / 06 JULY 2021

Interview with Latipah Zokafli on how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected her family at her house in Petaling Perdana, Selangor.
PIX: AFFAN FAUZI / MalaysiaGazette / 06 JULY 2021

“Things get more difficult when the Movement Control Order is extended. The children need to attend classes online but we cannot afford to provide sufficient and adequate gadgets for them.

“They had to share. As a mother, I need to think about who needs it the most, such as their sister who will be sitting for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia. Everyone else need to sacrifice.

“Sometimes, their teachers are not happy but what can I do as this is among the restraints that we are facing,” she said during an interview with MalaysiaGazette at Pangsapuri Petaling Perdana.

Ahmad Sabri Alin, his wife Latipah Zokafli and their children during the home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) at their home in Petaling Perdana, Selangor.     PIX: AFFAN FAUZI / MalaysiaGazette / 06 JULY 2021
Ahmad Sabri Alin, his wife Latipah Zokafli and their children during the home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) at their home in Petaling Perdana, Selangor.
PIX: AFFAN FAUZI / MalaysiaGazette / 06 JULY 2021

Elaborating further, Latipah often tells her children be patient in facing their challenges.

She said, sometimes, her children would throw tantrum as they feel that they are left out when they cannot attend classes online like their peers.

Latipah has eight children aged 20, 17, 15, 13, 11, 8, 5 and a four-month-old baby.

She said, her husband, Ahmad Sabri Alin, 47 and her cannot afford to provide a smartphone or table each for their six schooling children.

“Sometimes, I feel pressured by the current situation. I feel like screaming but I need to have a lot of patience.

“I realise that I do not have much money in my hands, I must use them prudently. I am very stressed.

“We also need to top-up the credit in order to use our gadgets. That is also a problem. Online classes are tough for parents who cannot fulfil those requirements,” she said.

Latipah added, the tablet and laptop used by her children are loaned to them by their school and they were contributed by a foundation.

She said, the whole family is depending on her husband as the sole bread winner who works at a courier company with a monthly salary of RM1,200.

Ahmad Sabri was a school van driver earlier. Nevertheless, he can no longer do that after the schools were closed down due to Covid-19.

“When we stay at home, our utility bills increase. The house is congested and we have many children. It is not peaceful. The children get emotional.

“Some days, I can control it, some days, I can’t. I feel sad. The children feel tense too. At month’s end, I would be thinking of what I can cook for the children.

“I teach them to eat whatever we have, they are also used to eating only once a day. They don’t mind as they are used to it,” she said.

Latipah said, throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, they merely depend on the withdrawal from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and several other aids.

People who wishes to contribute to this family may bank in to Latipah’s Maybank account, 162290042090 or contact 017-6935835. – MalaysiaGazette

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