PENAMPANG: Teachers at a remote school here are taking an extra effort to coax a Year 4 pupil to come back to school, although it means that they have to walk for 12 kilometres for a home visit.
Sekolah Kebangsaan Buayan headmaster Matius Kusop said last week, three teachers had walked about three hours for a return trip to visit a pupil who had been absent from school for three weeks.
“It was the second attempt by the school staff to persuade the boy to come back to school.
“During the first visit, our teachers went to his home in Kampung Pongobonon, but they only managed to meet their parents while the boy was nowhere around,” he said when contacted by NST, adding that the home visit was conducted on a weekday after school.
He said the boy did not go to school as he was recuperating from pains on his feet.
But after a while, the school found out from his father that the son had recovered but they could not make him return to school.
“The pupil’s elder brother quit school when he was in Year 6, which is understandable, as last time kids have to travel long distance every day.
“But now, the school has provided hostels and teachers are looking after them (including providing free meals).
“His two younger siblings, however, are willing to come to school,” Matius said, adding that the reason given by the 10-year-old pupil is he is not interested to study anymore.
During the persuasion, neither the parents nor teachers were successful in bringing the boy back to school.
The headmaster added that during that time, the child even clung on to his mother’s clothes until they were torn when a teacher trying to bring him back to hostel.
“The boy is a quiet student but he is doing well in his academics. It will be a waste if he gives up.
“Our school teachers will also not give up on him and will continue to make him come back to school,” he said.
Located high on the Crocker Range hills here, the Category 3 school is accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicles on dry days.
For three consecutive years, the school has achieved 100 per cent pass rate for Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah examination.-Pictures courtesy of SK Buayan