Beneath the vast blue skies off the coast of Semporna and overlooking the clear turquoise waters of the Celebes Sea, children's faces light up each time a teacher walks into the classroom. 'Selamat pagi, Cikgu,' they call out. 'Selamat pagi, murid-murid,' replies the teacher enthusiastically.
For nearly a decade now, since 2015, the Bajau community has benefited from Iskul’s gift of knowledge, empowering literacy among stateless youth. The Bajau, or sea nomads, inhabit the Omadal Island, a mere 60-minute boat ride from Bum Bum Island.
Emphasising the need to enhance academic achievement and leadership potential within the Bajau Laut community, Iskul Sama diLaut Omadal's mission to empower the community through education has yielded remarkable results.
“Starting with a foundation in basic literacy skills in Bahasa Malaysia and Mathematics, we also support our students’ development with a wide range of programmes for a wholesome and holistic education in a safe and healthy environment” said Chuah Ee Chia, the chairperson and co-founder of Iskul, who was also featured as one of Wiki Impact’s inaugural 100 impact makers.
Iskul’s informal school-turned-community centre has 5 levels of classes. Level 1 is for beginners and is taught by graduates of Iskul, known as Mastal Arikik (MA), or ‘Little Teachers’ in the Bajau Laut language. Bilkuin and Enidah are examples of such graduates who became MAs or assistant teachers. Khairul Atim, Iskul’s co-founder, is also a resident of Omadal. He conducted his first trial class at 14 years old and is now the field coordinator in charge of liaison with the Bajau Laut communities, Iskul’s meals, activities, and documentation.
Morning classes consist of Level 2 to 4 educational modules created by Jefry Musa. These classes are now taught by Iskul’s full-time teachers, Ayu and the other MAs. Level 5 focuses on vocational students who also run their own students-led projects such as a floating trash trap. “They learn skills that help in generating alternative income such as weaving and digital literacy,” said Ee Chia, adding that Iskul has yet to receive any funding for this particular class, as well as for the current operations.
“Besides that, we also have classes on the performing arts, marine stewardship and media content creation.”
Iskul also assists in other areas that affect the Bajau Laut community such as providing the community with healthcare and environmental programmes. “These include nutritious meals for students, supplements for pregnant and nursing mothers in 2021, personal hygiene and health campaigns.
“We even have a Community Health Centre that provides basic first aid services and medications for the stateless and Malaysian communities in Omadal. This is led by another of Iskul’s MA known as Shima.
“We also do projects together with the stateless and local community to encourage behavioural change towards waste disposal,” she said. Environmental projects like the Water Project and Waste Management Project are under the supervision of Rahmat Mosa, Iskul’s Project Coordinator.
Between 2021 and 2022, Iskul collaborated with Engineers Without Borders Malaysia (EWBM) to improve water access to all stateless households in Omadal. The project, which involved the collection and filtration of rainwater before it was diverted into 100-litre water tanks, was supposed to be built by EWBM’s engineering team. “However, due to Covid-19 restrictions, the engineers couldn’t travel to Omadal.
“Instead, we involved our students and showed them how to build the water filtration system using empty bottles, pipes and glue. This way, if there was any problem with the filtration system, they would know how to troubleshoot it and fix it themselves,” explained Ee Chia, highlighting that the new skills also boosted the children’s self-confidence and self-esteem.
The work of Iskul is ever-evolving and much of it depends on funds from organisations and the public. As a stateless community, the Bajau Laut people lack access to government housing, education, healthcare, banking facilities, and voting rights, among others.
“We hope that one day, from among Omadal’s Bajau Laut community, there will emerge a leader who will be change-makers in their community so that they too will have access and equal rights to the amenities and facilities provided by the government,” said Ee Chia.
“For now, we will continue to support them in whatever way we can, and with the public’s help, we hope to do even more.”
As the idyllic breeze blows through the island of Omadal and the gentle ocean waves sweep upon the shore, the laughter and giggles of Iskul’s students can still be heard from their stilt homes built on top of the sea. Despite fears of facing similar home demolitions that displaced at least 500 Bajau Laut people in Semporna recently, the Bajau Laut community in Omadal continues to place their hopes in the authorities for a peaceful resolution.