Indigenous sustainable education modelling: The role of chaperones in Batek children’s education in Malaysia

• Published in: International Review of Education
• Main Author: Abdullah M.A.; Ahmad B.E.; Ismail M.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media B.V. 2023
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85180213278&doi=10.1007%2fs11159-023-10035-9&partnerID=40&md5=07bd314297e696aec08c7ed5dd298c4c

This article focuses on sustainable education for Batek children, an ethnic subgroup of Indigenous Orang Asli peoples in Malaysia. A number of important figures, including school leaders, teachers, parents and peers, are needed to support initiatives to improve the quality of education among Indigenous communities. However, studies have indicated that a range of issues among Orang Asli children – such as low educational attainment, school dropout and high absenteeism – are hindering success. To help address these problems, a more conducive relationship between these children and their schools needs to be developed. The qualitative study presented in this article explored the role of “chaperones” (teachers’ aides) in a Let’s Go to School programme in a village school in Pahang, Malaysia, as a potential solution to support Batek children’s education. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four respondents: two village elders (who acted as chaperones for schoolchildren), one school principal and one teacher. Five themes were identified as connected to the role of chaperones and the success of the programme: trust, commitment, conducive environment, appropriate policy and regulation, and community support. The chaperones were found to act as informal teachers, effectively supporting Batek children, and the community, in both the academic and outside world. Findings indicate the need for a proper modelling of Indigenous sustainable education which recognises the role of chaperones in Batek children’s education. This approach could also be extended to other Orang Asli communities. © 2023, UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning and Springer Nature B.V.