KUALA KRAI: While most children are fast asleep in the early hours of the morning, six pupils of SJK(T) Ladang Pasir Gajah are on their way to school, travelling about 50km from Ladang Kerala to attend lessons.
The pupils have to wake up early to catch the school van, which picks them up about 5.30am. They reach school around 6.30am.
The nearly 100km daily round trip has become part of their routine, with some catching up on sleep during the journey.
Despite the long commute, the six remain enthusiastic about their education, travelling in a school van free of charge.
Among them is Year Six pupil Kaunesh Siwaraja, who lives in Ladang Kerala.
The third of four siblings said he had to wake up much earlier than other children to get ready for school, but had grown accustomed to the routine.
Another Year Six pupil, Mafisvaran Rajkanna, the second of four siblings, said he had been taking the van since Year One.
He said the journey had become part of his life, although waking up so early could be challenging.
Year Five pupil Shivaani Kumaran, the second of three siblings, also began taking the van in Year One.
She said the early morning journey sometimes made her feel sleepy and she occasionally fell asleep in the van.
For the school, the pupils’ determination to attend classes highlights the importance of ensuring access to Tamil education for the small Indian community in the area.
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Headmaster Kannan Manickam said the school had only 20 Indian pupils, with 14 living around Kuala Krai and the remaining six coming from Ladang Kerala.
He said the other 14 pupils also used the school van service, but had shorter journeys as they lived closer to the school.
He attributed the low enrolment mainly to the declining Indian population in Kuala Krai, Tanah Merah and Gua Musang, as many families had moved elsewhere in search of employment, particularly in factories outside Kelantan.
“One of the initiatives we have proposed is to provide a hostel for pupils from Gua Musang, Kuala Krai and Kota Baru.
“We have submitted the proposal to the Education Ministry as we believe hostel facilities can help increase enrolment and give more children the opportunity to receive an education at this school.
“We hope this issue can be resolved so that the school can continue serving the Indian community.”
Kannan said the six pupils from Ladang Kerala comprised three Year Five pupils, one Year Four pupil and two Year Six pupils.
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The school has 20 pupils from Year One to Year Six, but has no enrolment for Year Two.
It has seven classrooms, with only six in use.
He said the school was established in 1945 and its present building was constructed in 2000.
Parent-Teacher Association president Datuk Govind Ragasavi said efforts were being made to attract more pupils.
He said children from Ladang Kerala having to travel long distance were among the challenges that needed to be addressed.
“The proposed hostel facilities can help children attend school without having to travel such long distances.”
Kelantan Education Department deputy director (school management sector) Mohd Hassany Hashim said SJK(T) Ladang Pasir Gajah was the only Tamil national-type school in Kelantan.
He said the proposal to build a hostel would be taken to the Education Ministry for consideration to address the school’s low enrolment.