Authorities still persuading Orang Asli parents to send kids back to SK Tohoi

Orang Asli parents in Kelantan remain reluctant to send their children to SK Tohoi after a tragedy last year which saw four pupils die and another still missing. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 12, 2016.The Kelantan Education Department will continue persuading parents of 66 Orang Asli pupils of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tohoi who live in Kampung Penad and Kampung Simpor to send their children back to the school.

Its director, Datuk Ab Aziz Abdullah said only pupils from the two villages had not reported to school since the 2016 school session began in January as the parents were worried about their children's safety.

"We have fulfilled all demands of the parents who required us to improve safety aspects at the school by spending more than RM500,000, including on building a new fence," he told reporters after opening SK Tohoi's parent-teacher association annual general meeting today.

The state education director said so far, 121 out of 187 pupils were attending the school which is also equipped with a hostel.

He said the department would conduct programmes in the villages involved to raise awareness among the Orang Asli community on the importance of education for their children.

He expressed hope that the tragedy which befell seven SK Tohoi pupils last year would not prevent Orang Asli parents from providing education for their children.

In August last year, seven pupils left their school hostel fearing punishment after bathing in a river without the teacher's permission.

After almost 50 days, Norieen Yaakob, 11, and Miksudiar Aluj, 12, were found alive, starving and dehydrated on the river banks in the forest.

The other five children who went missing were Ika Ayel, nine, Sasa Sobrie, Haikal Yaakob and Linda Rosli, all aged eight, and Juvina David, seven, from Kampung Gawin and Kampung Penad.

Four of the children – Ika, Haikal, Linda and Juvina – were found dead while Sasa has yet to be found. – Bernama, March 12, 2016.