Permaisuri Johor Gifts Laptops To Underprivileged Students

JOHOR BARU: Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor (YRZSNJ), which is much concerned with the plight of children living in low-cost flats during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), will give laptops to children unable to follow online learning sessions.

Schools in Johor closed on Nov 9, following the imposition of the CMCO to combat the almost nationwide surge in Covid-19 cases. Although the period of the CMCO is scheduled to end on Dec 6, schools will remain closed for the end-of-year holidays until Jan 20.

However, several schools have resorted to online lessons for their pupils. But such online lessons cannot be accessed by pupils who are too poor to own computers.

Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah has expressed concern about the lack of study-from-home facilities for these less privileged pupils. To address this issue, she has arranged for laptops to be given to the pupils.

′′The current situation will have a negative impact on students whose families are unable to provide equipment for them to attend online learning sessions.

′′We will continue to refine and identify families who really need help in terms of these lessons so that their children don’t miss out,” Raja Zarith Sofiah said, as quoted by the Royal Press Office (RPO).

She instructed officials from her foundation on the matter during a meeting also involving the Johor chapter of the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) at Istana Bukit Serene recently. The meeting was a follow-up to last week’s session that discussed community welfare in low-cost housing areas affected by the hardships brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those who attended the meeting were the wife of the Johor state secretary, Datin Dr Noor Azizah Abdul Latiff; Johor Baru district officer Abdul Rahman Salleh; MRC national committee for community services and health deputy chairman Datuk Mohd Rashidi Mohd Nor; and the foundation’s chief executive officer, Hishamuddin Abd Rahim.

Raja Zarith Sofiah also gave instructions that equipment for board games would be distributed to children in low-cost flats, and that aid will be expanded to other areas in the state. Another official from the foundation said Raja Zarith Sofiah was extremely concerned about these children loitering around during this period of the CMCO.

“She is concerned that these children may pick up habits that are detrimental to their development if they are allowed to loiter without something useful to do,” said the official.

Source: NST