The education situation of learning centres for the children of Indonesian migrant labourers : A case study in Sabah

• Main Author: Kathryn Anne Rivai
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: LC4812-5160.3 Other special classes
• Online Access: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/37930/1/24%20PAGES.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/37930/2/FULLTEXT.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/37930/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sabah

There is extensive literature to be found addressing Indonesian migrant labourers in Sabah. However, research concerning migrant labourers' children, especially that pertaining to access and quality of education, has generally been neglected. This is a critical issue facing the local and foreign populations in Sabah and one that has long-term ramifications for Sabah in general. The purpose of this inquiry was to investigate the learning situation in schools for children of migrant Indonesian labourers. Through this inquiry, I hoped to gain insight into issues surrounding the learning programmes and to hear the 'voice' of the children, their teachers and their parents about what learning they need for their lives now and in their future. I wanted to know if the existing learning programmes would benefit the children wherever they chose to live and work. The children of migrant Indonesian labourers, illiterate and marginalised from education, are engulfed in serious problems in their personal and community development; indeed, the entire social fabric of their local society is torn by severe stresses. I wanted to find out if the problems encountered in the children's personal lives had an effect on the way they learn and did the learning programmes need to be changed to meet this need. It was the intention of this research to try to discover what a quality and beneficial learning programme relevant to the needs of these stateless and marginalised children might look like. Through this inquiry I was able to establish that changes are necessary to make the learning programmes more relevant to the lives of the learners. The main qualitative methodology I chose to investigate this theme was the case study and its relevant methods. The data collection and subsequent analysis resulted in seven major categories emerging of areas the informants want programme planners to consider. The implications of these results will, with support from the teachers and curriculum developers improve and develop relevant learning programmes for these children. Finally, one of the most important intended outcomes and recommendations of this writing is to generate further discussion and research for providing, a relevant education for all children of Indonesian migrant labour in Sabah with additional focus on pre-school preparation and, importantly, providing a quality education giving equity for all children to achieve their life goals.