This picture shows me a scene of a group of children whom I assume to be primary school students judging from their age and attire, inside a dilapidated wooden shelter which appears to be their classroom. Other than the run-down infrastructure, the furniture (such as tables and chairs) inside the shelter are also of inferior quality and in poor condition. However, the children, most of whom are wearing brown uniforms, do not seem to mind the low standards of facilities. In fact, the small classroom was packed with students, indicating that learning opportunities may probably be very limited in the area where the school is located and that places in classes are so sought after to the extent that the students cannot be bothered by the state of the school and its facilities.

Judging from the picture, I can infer that this “school” is probably located in an undeveloped area or a third-world country where the local education system is not well established and weak, run-down infrastructure are a common sight due to frail economies and outdated technology. In many of these under-developed areas and countries, access to education is not widely available, in addition to the poor quality and facilities of schools. Every opportunity to receive education is hard to come by and desperately sought after, with the few fortunate ones relinquishing and grateful for the chance to study and learn, for that could represent a change of their fates and lives for the better.

From the picture, I can also see that most of the children are well-disciplined, as most of them are properly seated with their study materials (such as their bags and books) laid out neatly on their tables. Despite the lack of a conducive learning environment, the decrepit classroom and ramshackle furniture were kept neat and clean. I find it ironic that if we were to compare this picture to another one of a typical classroom in contemporary Singapore, where every single school have, at the very least, proper and structurally-safe classrooms for all students. Despite the availability of proper classrooms and learning facilities, more than often do we see vandalised tables, strewn chairs and littered floors …… in most classrooms. Material-wise, the students in the picture have nothing comparable to what students in Singapore have, but they treasure and protect what they have, in contrary, many Singaporean students do not appreciate what we have right now, be it the opportunity to attend school or the excellent facilities that were made available to us in school, or even high standard of living of living that we enjoy right now.

Just looking at the school building itself, I do not think that one can ever find anything similar here in Singapore. Nor can we see students here wearing the threadbare uniforms that the children in the picture are wearing. Neither will we receive rickety, makeshift furniture for our tables and chairs. Perhaps, it is due to the high standard of living that we enjoy which made us overlooked the fact that most of us are very fortunate in the sense that we need not worry for our lives and are provided with a safe and conducive environment to study and etc. As a result, we may not appreciate or treasure what we have.

Personally, I was awed by the spirit displayed by the children in the picture. In order to have a chance to receive education, they are jeopardizing their own safety by studying in such a precarious structure and are trying their best to make the best out of what they have, as shown by how they treasure and care for their school’s environment and properties. It seems almost consuetudinary for them to treasure every learning opportunity for they understand how hard is such an opportunity to come by and to maximize its value. Disregarding their shabby physical environment, their hunger for knowledge and will to learn probably helped to fuel their inquisitive minds, and such a drive is something that I feel is lacking among students here.

Students here have basic and proper necessities to facilitate their learning, in fact, some even enjoy state-of-the-art or advanced learning materials which can be considered avant-garde. However, some students are nonchalant about studying despite having the chance to. I feel that we should really reflect on our approach and attitude towards learning, for children, not only in this picture, but in many other rural and undeveloped areas, have showed to the world that learning is not restricted by their environment, but spurred on by their spirit, and that is what impressed me. Looking back at recent events such as the devastating Si Chuan Earthquake and Cyclone Nargis which ripped through Myanmar’s Irrawaddy delta, we often receive reports of affected students who had to make do with makeshift and often, dangerous shelters as replacement for their ruined schools being more excited at the prospect of being able to return to school than hopes of receiving aid, this further displays the importance and value of education to these children, which some students here have failed to identify.

To conclude, I think that the children in the picture have provided us with a role model, for their learning journey was an arduous one and it is through hardships that we can identify the real value of something important to us, which in this case, is education.


Done By: Huang Jian Yi (35) 3G :)

Labels: Picture Discussion