The Goducate literacy centers in Sabah recently held a competition to see which of its centers would emerge the Best in Science and Maths. 16 centers took part. An elimination round was held in each center, to choose who would be its representative in each of the levels. The three levels were the beginners 9 (aged 4-6), the basic literacy program students (aged 7-9), and the primary school level (aged 10 and above).
There are over 1500 students attending Goducate literacy centers in Sabah. The aim of the competition was to test the students’ level of learning, as well as to teach them the value of friendly competition.
The finals were held at the “mother” center, the first of the Goducate literacy centers. Tension was high among teachers, parents, students, and even neighbors in the village, all eager to find out which centers the champions would emerge from.
Elimination round at literacy center in "water village"The final round at "mother" literacy center.The champions (L to R): Laila (beginners), Azhar (primary school level), and Azrin (basic literacy level).
There are now 17 Goducate Literacy Centers in Sabah, serving about 2000 poor children who do not have the opportunity to attend school.
Children at these centers learn phonics (literacy) and numeracy. The unique feature of Goducate’s centers is that most of the teachers are mothers from their own communities, or former Goducate students who are now serving as teachers. Another unique feature is that most of the school buildings are built by the community.
The literacy and numeracy program has been very successful and most of our students are able to read phonetically – in English and Malay – after a few months. Goducate is now focusing on how to help our students to earn a livelihood.
As a start a few sewing machines were bought and young girls are taught how to sew. Their first project was to sew simple satchels (school bags) to carry their school books. These budding entrepreneurs bought cloth and sewed bags, which were then sold for 2 Malaysian Ringgit each – earning a healthy 1.5 Ringgit profit per bag!
7-year-old Goducate student who sews her own clothes
The recent visit by the ieatishootipost blogging community resulted in the donation of another sewing machine and a hemming-machine. These have come in time to sew dresses for the coming Muslim festival.
Goducate plans to have 100 learning centers in Sabah by the end of the first quarter of 2012. We now have 17 centers and some 2000 students. How do we decide where to start our next center? Generally we don’t have to go looking. It’s the villagers who seek us out. Jestoni’s story is one example of how keen villagers are to have a Goducate learning center and how Goducate expands in Sabah.
Jestoni
Jestoni used to look with longing and envy at children in school uniforms on their way to school each morning. But like so many others in his village, his family does not have the proper documents that entitle him to a place in the local state school.
One day he heard that a “school” had opened nearby. This Goducate learning center was across the river, 40 minutes away on foot. He begged his mother to enrol him there, but the teacher did not accept him because the class was too full. It took his mother’s friend to let our area coordinator know of Jestoni’s story. Our area coordinator then persuaded the teacher to take him in. However, one afternoon, while walking home, Jestoni was offered Rm50 (USD 16) by a man to enter his van. Jestoni ran home as fast as he could and told his mother what had happened. That was the end of his going to this school.
Then another learning center was opened, again on the other side of the river, but this time Jestoni would have to get there by boat. Really wanting to learn, he went without telling his mother. He and some other boys rowed a “sampan” (a small rowing boat) to look for the school. They found it and were very happy to be able to attend classes that day. But on the way back, the sampan capsized.
His mother was very alarmed. Seeing her son’s determination to attend school, she asked that we start a learning center in her house. Now Jestoni and his younger siblings and other children in their community have a learning center right in the midst of their simple dwellings.
