Pitas students risk lives going to school on overcrowded boats

 By Olivia Miwil - January 14, 2022 @ 4:25pm

Sekolah Kebangsaan Mangkapon students risking their lives everytime they go to school as they board on over-capacity chartered boat. - Pic courtesy of Khairul Abidin

PITAS: For the past two years, children in the interior villages here have been risking their lives when they go to school by travelling on overcrowded boats.

A family member, Khairul Abidin, 40, said the 30 students from Kampung Pituru Timbangtuan and Kampung Mangkapon Laut have to take a boat to go to their school at Sekolah Kebangsaan Mangkapon.

"They are being squeezed into a boat, which reached beyond the maximum capacity, to go to their school which is located about 40 minutes from their villages.

"The maximum depth of the river is about 50 metres, anything can happen…it is very dangerous for the children," he said.

Khairul added that although the school is reachable by road, not all of the parents can afford to own a car.

As most of the villagers are fishermen, he said they found chartering a boat together will help the kids go to school while saving on travelling costs.

Following his viral post on social media, he said the children managed to get life jackets from the school.

"However, we are still hoping that the government or any organisations could help the children by providing a boat or engine.

"Otherwise, some of the kids cannot go to school (due to the hazard from the overcapacity) and it will not be fair as they have missed school sessions for so long."

Pitas, located about four hours from the state capital, is one of the poorest districts in the country.