The man who has been crossing the sea every day for 7 years to take his children to school: “Then I go back home by boat”
The family is not willing for their children not to go to school. Going overland would take them four hours.
When parents choose a school for their children, it’s usually close to home, or at least near a grandparent’s house or one of the parents’ workplaces. Sometimes the school is farther than usual, and kids might have to take a school bus.But the family in this story doesn’t fit any of those standards. This happened in Malaysia, where a family crosses the sea every day to get to school. Their home is on Pulau Tioman island, where there aren’t many educational institutions—especially in Kampung Salang, where they live.
However, the parents are determined to make sure their children get a proper education. That’s why every day they take a boat to Sekolah Kebangsaan Tekek, the nearest school.
Four hours if done by land
If they traveled by land, the journey would take four hours, as it would involve passing through forests, steep terrain, and even areas with venomous animals.
“That’s why we use a boat that takes about 10 to 15 minutes and passes through three other villages, even in bad weather,” the father told local outlet Sinar Harian.
The head of the family, Jamaludin Musa, explained that the daily journey for his two children, 11-year-old Armin and 8-year-old Aida Izabella, starts at 6:30 a.m. At that time, his wife, Rozalia Bodi, gets the kids ready. They ride a motorbike to the dock, take a boat, and then ride another motorbike to reach the school.
Outstanding academic performance
Afterward, the father returns home and then heads back later in the day to pick them up, using the same route.
“Then I return home by boat and wait until it’s time to collect the kids after school. So we use three different types of transport every day,” he confirmed.
Despite the effort, he says it’s been worth it—his children are excelling academically, especially in sports.
It’s no surprise to him that his children do well in physical activities. Given the risks of sea travel, Jamaludin has taught them navigation skills. In fact, he recalled one trip when the boat’s engine broke off and he had to purchase a new one.
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A video showing the children’s daily commute has gone viral, generating admiration online. It has already racked up over 1.3 million views and 74,800 likes on social media.
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