Malaysian Teacher Praised for Visiting Students’ Homes to Conduct Lessons During Haze-Related School Closure

As haze conditions continue to worsen due to ongoing forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia, many schools across Malaysia have been forced to temporarily close, with lessons shifting online.

For one Malaysian teacher, however, that wasn't enough. Determined to ensure his students didn't fall behind, he went the extra mile by teaching them in person during the school closure.

Not his first time doing this

Mohammad Alif Rahman, 40, a remedial education teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Paya Mas in Tangkak, Johor, personally visited the homes of his 15 students to continue their lessons despite living in Jasin, Melaka.

Image Credit: TikTok (@alif_rahman)

Speaking to Harian Metro, the teacher, affectionately known as Cikgu Alif, said this wasn't the first time he had taught students at their homes. He previously adopted the same approach during the Movement Control Order (MCO).

He shared, "I believe every teacher has their own way of educating students, especially during school closures."

"Personally, I chose this approach because I'm very close to my students and their families. It's also more practical, as most of them live in villages with limited internet access."

Cikgu Alif added that he obtained permission from the school's principal before carrying out the home visits and informed parents in advance out of respect for their privacy.

He typically spends around 15 minutes teaching at each home. On some days, however, he is only able to visit students in the evening if he is unable to do so earlier in the day.

"To respect the families' privacy, I usually conduct lessons outside the house. But some parents go above and beyond by preparing a special space for me to teach their children."

Despite the praise he has received, Cikgu Alif stressed that he never intended to suggest his approach is the best way to educate students during school closures.

Instead, he said he simply wanted to highlight the challenges faced by certain teachers, particularly those who work closely with students requiring additional support and attention.

Featured Image Credit: @alif_rahman | TikTok