Outgoing Mendaki CEO laments the attitude of parents who are reluctant to enrol their children in tuition schemes
ON MENDAKI'S MISSION OF EMPOWERING THE DISADVANTAGED THROUGH EDUCATION
'There are three outcomes we want to see: Every child goes to school, stays in school and completes at least 10 years of formal education, and widens his horizons and builds on his strengths.
'If we want to achieve these things, what must we do? It's not just about providing tuition, but we have to look at the issues deeper because there's often more to things.
'Sometimes the child doesn't go to school because he doesn't have shoes, or he doesn't have the money to take transport, or someone in school says that he is stupid.
'Sometimes we have to help family members find a job or child care.
'This is where we leverage on national resources, not duplicate them, work with other agencies and social workers and link the family to the various forms of help they need.'
ON IMPROVING MALAY PUPILS' MATHS GRADES
'We in Mendaki believe that we can do maths, Malays can do maths. It's interesting to read the articles in the newspapers - none says that our brains are wrongly wired or something like that.
'Everybody says the key to doing well in maths is hard work and practice. I failed maths once...'
ON PITCHING IN THROUGH 'HOMEWORK CLINICS'
'One idea I have is homework clinics. We have rental flats. If I can just set up tables at a void deck, offer sandwiches and drinks, and then when I see kids loitering around, I'd ask: 'Got homework or not? Come and bring your homework here and I'll help you. Every Tuesday and Thursday, I'll be here at this time.'
'Can we start something like that?'
ON WHY MENDAKI IS BANKING ON YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO HELP
'We have the youngest population. Fifty-five per cent of our community is below 35 years old. They are going to be our future leaders.
'They will need to think differently about doing things. Like working with dysfunctional families, what if you can't work with the parents? Do you throw in the towel, or do you find other ways, like working with the kids?'
How bout Chinese kids?
are they bandits?
