“Snakes, Tigers & Elephants”: This Teacher Talks About The Wild Things That Orang Asli Kids Face Just To Go To School
Source: Instagram | shawnstanly
Cikgu Shawn was honoured with this year’s Taylor’s College RISE Educator Award for his exceptional dedication and efforts in going above and beyond for his students.
Imagine a classroom where encountering wild animals is part of the daily routine. This is the reality for students and staff at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) RPS Banun, as recounted by Cikgu Shawn Stanly Anthony Dass, who taught there for a couple of years.
Located in a secluded Orang Asli village in Gerik, Perak, SK RPS Banun serves as an educational hub for 18 neighbouring villages. It’s a place where the local youth can come to learn.
“Some villages are about an hour’s boat ride away from school,” Shawn shared with reporters, explaining that most students commute by crossing a small lake by boat and then taking a four-wheeler through the forest. “And if it rains, they don’t come to school at all,” he added.
If the challenging terrain and weather weren’t enough, the school also has to deal with some unexpected guests.
“It’s more than just snakes. Tigers, elephants… Things that we don’t really get in the cities!” said Shawn.
Isolation and Prejudice
During his two-year tenure, Shawn noticed that the students’ isolation from the outside world negatively affected their literacy and self-esteem. The kids rarely have contact with people outside their community.
Adjusting his teaching methods to better suit his students’ needs was a gradual process. It took time for the students to warm up to him.
“This is common in most Orang Asli schools where students lack basic abilities in literacy and numeracy,” Shawn explained. “Imagine a class of 20 students, and only two can read. How do you teach the syllabus or textbooks to a class when only one can read? So I had to think of different methodologies to ensure learning opportunities and that learning doesn’t stop for them.”
Shawn also highlighted the persistent biases faced by the Orang Asli community. Despite attending school, they often face low expectations and scepticism about the value of their education and potential.
“When I first started, many people said it was a waste of time to educate these children because they would forget what they learned the next day. These prejudices are common, and breaking these stereotypes was a battle I fought with some of my colleagues,” Shawn shared.
Teacher of the Year!
Shawn’s exceptional efforts earned him the Taylor’s College RISE Educator Award. He created engaging projects like a flight simulator and a beach-themed marine class to enhance learning for his students. He even organised educational trips to Penang and Mumbai, India.
For his hard work, Shawn received a RM5,000 award, plus an additional RM20,000 for the school. He believes this money will help create a special learning hub at SK RPS Banun, offering amenities that will raise the rural school’s standard to match those in the cities.
“The hub was designed with help from my students as a space for the community to learn, play, and work together,” Shawn said. “It’s not just for my students but also open to the community, including parents who come for classes at school. It’s always been my dream to create this learning space to encourage more students and their parents to use it and help reduce illiteracy and dropout rates.”
Although he didn’t initially plan on becoming a teacher, Shawn leaves SK RPS Banun with a sense of accomplishment after his time there.
He discovered his passion for teaching while working part-time as a tutor after completing his STPM (Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia).
“I would love to continue teaching. If there’s an opportunity in the future, I would definitely take it,” Shawn said.
The RISE Educator Award 2024 featured 10 outstanding teachers selected for their inspiring stories. Five finalists each received RM1,000, and their schools were given RM10,000 to improve the learning environment.
