Sekolah Kebangsaan Tetabuan Beluran: An island school off Sandakan in Sabah
While in Sandakan, I was privileged to make the acquaintance of Cikgu Farhana who teaches in this school. She was posted here from Muar, and has to serve for three years. She gave me an interesting account of life on the remote island teaching Bajau kids.
This is the school canteen.
From Sandakan, she has to travel for an hour or so and then hop onto a boat to reach the island school. Being remote and isolated, you can imagine the hardship and sacrifices teachers and the headmaster have to endure. But their primary concern is to give the kids a good education.
Students returning home.
School starts as early as 7 AM. Like kids in most rural communtities, they lead a carefree life.
Note: Images courtesy of Cikgu Farhana.
Actually I wouldn't mind teaching in the school. Pretty teachers. Any vacancy?
ReplyDeleteNice kids too.
Perasaan saya sama juga.Tapi warga emas Andy boleh tahan nyamok2 di situ tak?
ReplyDeleteKalau untok makan angin tah boleh tahan nyamok, kalau untok periok-nasi dan mecari mambang tentu boleh! Pengalaman Adek Roger maseh mudah lagi.
ReplyDeleteAbang Apandy.
This is a unique school. The kids has clear blue sky and wide open field all to themselves.
ReplyDeleteFor a person like me who is trapped inside concrete jungles, I admire them.
Thank you for publishing my school pictures. Will send some more pictures soon:). You can visit my school website which was developed this year by one of my colleague at: http://sktetabuan.ppdbeluran.com
ReplyDeleteYes, Teoh, rustic splendour. Although I've visited a Msian school in the remote highlands of Kelabit (blogged about in earlier posts), I've yet to step into an island school.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cikgu Farhana. If I happen to go to Sandakan, I'll try and drop in for a visit. Any place to stay? Never mind, I can sleep in the canteen or in someone's living room sofa. Chicken coop pun say rela.
No worries about the accomodation. I have the air mattress bed and i won't let you sleep in chicken coop:) (chicken coop never exist in Tetabuan)
ReplyDeleteLOL, ok terima kasih, Cikgu Farhana. I like the picture you showed me of the parents and staff. And also, the one on the flood.
ReplyDeleteThe school look basic and minimal. But, the lush surrounding is definitely relaxing and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteNice article! Thank you for the writer :D I´ll never forget this place and I´ll definately gonna visit in Tetabuan Beluran again! Thank you Ana for everything and say my hellous for the kids, teachers, guards, village people and the great beachvolley team ;)
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have taught there? What a memorable experience you must have had.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an interesting information of the school in the island. I used to go to that island back in 1970s when I was still studying in a primary school (also in a remote area) with my father to sell bananas and other local fruits to the island folks. I missed the island so much and thank you very much of the pictures you all have posted. Generally, most of the remote primary schools in Sabah still need a lot of attentions from the authorities and the dedicated teachers. As one of the products of a remote primary school in Sabah, I would like to extend my gratitude and lots of thanks to you all dedicated teachers who have the courage to teach in that kind of areas. I would like to visit Tetabuan one day with my children.
ReplyDelete