PEKAN: IT was an emotional and heartbreaking day for pupils of SK Runchang, an Orang Asli school near here, as they bade farewell to English teacher Samuel Isaiah, 32, yesterday.
Some Year Four pupils were crying, while the teacher appeared at a loss for words.
To cheer them up, Isaiah played the ukelele, which he had used in the classroom, before all of them sat and sang songs.
Despite his effort to assure them that he would keep in touch, many clung on to him while some pulled his hands.
The graduate of Universiti Utara Malaysia and Teachers Training Institute (Penang campus) is leaving the school after eight years for further studies in the United States next week.
He gained in popularity after his method of teaching English to the Orang Asli pupils went viral early this year.
Some parents turned up to say goodbye to the teacher, whom they described as going the extra mile for his pupils.
Isaiah travelled 200km daily to school and introduced fun-filled learning techniques, including sekolah pokok (tree school), where he would go to the Runchang Orang Asli settlement twice a week after school hours to conduct English lessons under trees.
His efforts paid off when pupils from the Jakun Orang Asli tribe were not only able to speak English but also scored an A in the subject in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah.
The passing rate for the English subject at the school had risen to 80 per cent, compared with 30 per cent previously.
Holding back tears, Isaiah said he had only sweet memories at the school and had learnt a lot from the community, including speaking their language.
“Since my first day of posting, the pupils have become part of my family.
“I am not sure about other places, but this school has allowed me to express myself as a teacher and contribute to the Orang Asli.
“Time really flies. It seemed just like yesterday that we laid the canvass under the trees for the sekolah pokok, using tablets with headphones, playing the ukulele and singing songs.
“The pupils and parents call me ‘sir’. I am going to miss them.”
He said when he completed his studies in 2012, he applied to teach in Penang, but was posted to the school instead.
“I believe I was sent here for a reason and I am happy to be part of the transformation at the school, especially in English.
“Now most of the pupils are no longer shy to speak English. Even some parents are comfortable with the language.”
When he first broke the news about his plans to further his studies, many thought it was a joke, especially when he mentioned about going to the US.
“When I mentioned it, they started to laugh. But when the news turned out to be true, it shocked them and their parents.
“I am going to miss the morning drive from Kuantan to the settlement.
“The pupils have been an inspiration and helped to transform my life, just like how I did theirs.
“I treated them like my family and this built their confidence.”
Isaiah, who will pursue a Master of Science in Educational Policy and Leadership (Global and Comparative Education) at the State University of New York for two years, is among five Malay-sians to receive the Fulbright scholarship.
Parent Siti Nurazimah Rahman, 33, described Samuel as someone who had helped bring changes to the Orang Asli in Runchang and added his absence would be felt.
“Teacher Sam (Samuel) was committed to his work. He would visit our homes if our children were absent from class. He organised programmes for them. Former students (now in secondary school) contact him for advice,” she said as tears flowed down her cheeks.
Zenny Noralfiera Mohd Norhizan, 10, said the teacher made English lessons fun and this had encouraged them to attend school.