PdPR: Imagine the chaos when six siblings had to share a laptop

KUALA LUMPUR: Online learning was only an option previously but at a time when the world is facing a pandemic situation, it has become a necessity.

The question is what about parents who have a large number of children and had to provide learning aid to all of them at the same time.

Astro AWANI cameraman, Sallehin Hussain, said for parents who only have one or two children, the matter may not cause any problems.

But for him, with only a laptop, his six children aged six to 13 had to fight each other when learning sessions were done simultaneously.

"There is only one laptop, so it is a bit chaotic. My wife and I had to sit at the same table with our eldest son who is in high school on school orientation day.

"At the same time, I need to monitor my second, third and fourth child because they have orientation sessions and introductory sessions with parents and so on," he explained.

In addition to facing the problem of poor internet access, Sallehin also had to decide to prioritise classes that have two-way interactivity.

"Maybe some parents have the same fate as me, and maybe some are worse. With fewer children maybe it will be a little less chaotic and can still be managed.

"For my situation, it may be a bit chaotic because there are six of them. If I do not work, I give my smartphone for the children to use.

"Even so, the use of mobile phones has its own constraints because the PowerPoint shared by teachers is not very clear, as the screen display is too small," he told Astro AWANI on Saturday.

Therefore, Sallehin asked the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) to review the learning and teaching plan from home (PdPR) to prevent any students from dropping out in the process.