IT has been a rather challenging year for Tan Tatt Sin and his younger brother to cope with their studies during the Covid-19 crisis.
Being the eldest child in the family, Tan, 19, said he was willing to shoulder the responsibility to care for his 83-year-old grandfather and his 15-year-old brother.
The Heng Ee High School Upper Six student and his younger brother took turns to use a smartphone to take part in e-learning classes conducted by the school during the movement control order period.
They did not have a laptop or a computer.
“My father works as a dental technician on the mainland and we understand that he is often very busy. My mother had passed away when I was 12.
“This is a challenging year for my brother and I because we have many assignments that we have to complete but we do not have the necessary equipment.
“We shared a smartphone to attend virtual classes conducted by the school. We have missed several classes,” he said when met at Swisspac Resources Sdn Bhd in Perak Road today.
Tan was overjoyed and extremely grateful to receive a free laptop under the state’s ‘E-Learning Computer Programme’.
“Thank you so much for the laptop. I am speechless. With this laptop, my brother and I can catch up with our studies.
“I hope to do well in my STPM and eventually have a good career to support my family,” Tan said.
He kept thanking the programme task force and the school for helping him during this time of need.
The Penang government had announced the setting up of the ‘E-Learning Computer Programme’ task force on May 21.
The task force is dedicated to enhance the education sector to adapt to the new normal. The task force consists of government agencies, private corporations, non-governmental organisations and dedicated individuals.
There are six initiatives under the ‘E-Learning Computer Programme’ – computer device loan scheme, used computer grant scheme; technical support and maintenance; computer literacy training programmes; empowerment of communities through e-dialogues and e-forums; and purchase of computer devices at discounted price and interest-free instalment scheme.
Penang Women and Family Development, Gender Inclusiveness and Religions Other Than Islam Commitee chairman Chong Eng said the programme received good response from the students.
“We have more than 1,000 national-type school students applying for the free laptops or computers.”
“We hope that more companies or individuals can donate their used laptops or computers for the benefit of students.
“Under the used computer grant scheme, the used computers or laptops will be collected and refurbished by Swisspac before they are donated to the eligible students,” Chong Eng said.
She added that several corporations had also donated computer devices to be lent out for free to qualified students who are recommended by their schools.
Chong Eng appealed to donors to contribute generously for the benefit of the needy students.
“The donors can donate their used laptops or computers to Swisspac. They can also send the devices to the service centres of their elected representatives,” she said.
Also present were Swisspac technical manager C.M. Lim and assistant technical manager K.Y. Hong.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud