The “Turtle Research and Rehabilitation Group” went to Setiu this morning to meet up with the teachers of SK Penarik to discuss some matters concerning the river terrapin project scheduled to take off later this month.
The location of the school is simply strategic, which is just across the road from the South China Sea. But of course the downside to this is that tables and chairs (any everything metal) needed to be replaced once too often as they become rusty very soon.
Right behind the school are a couple of traditional Malay houses that, despite being built with wood, still look as sturdy as ever.
And just behind the Malay houses is the Setiu river, one of the two river systems in Terengganu in which we conduct the river terrapin conservation project.
SK Penarik is quite a small school, with a student population of a little more than 100. There are 17 teachers, including the headmistress, three security guards and a couple of cleaning ladies and gardeners.
Despite being located just an hour from Kuala Terengganu, surprisingly, the villagers in Setiu do not have the luxury of owning a house phone. Apparently, the teachers said that the school is supplied with an electric generator to generate electricity to power the phone but the generator very often breaks down whenever electricity supply is interrupted. So needless to say, the school lacks a functional phone, a fax machine and obviously, internet connection.
In spite of this, SK Penarik is a proud school because its students represent the state of Terengganu in sailing. These students are good at something! Not bad for a humble little rural school, huh?
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hoho~ sailing is cool…therefore, cool school.
i didn’t know that phones were generated by electricity…how come the phones still work when the current trips at home??
pelf: Because the phone you use at home isn’t generator-powered! Those are powered by cables, no?
Mmm… not sure why the name of this school sounds vaguely familiar to me? I’m usually not one who notices schools and their names. Perhaps, it could be their sailing team.
Hope the education ministry look into other aspects of the school facilities, other than sailing.
pelf: Yea, I thought so too.. I was very angry when told that the school does not have a phone and a fax machine. I mean, how do you get things done if the school lacks the basic necessity?
I love the beach at Penarik !!! It’s just sooooOOoOOooOOOoOoOOOoOoOOOOO nice …. I’m gonna buy some land there and build myself a nice retirement home someday !
pelf: Ooo la la.. There are a couple of beautiful houses along the beach too, you know.. I love the one with glass walls the most
*daydreams*
What??! No phones??! Then how do they call for pizza? Hehehe just kidding
pelf: They don’t call for pizza la, they eat home-made keropok lekor