No one would argue that the lockdown has had a negative impact on the country. Many businesses have been forced to fold, companies have had to downsize, employees have lost their jobs, and some have even lost their homes.

However, because of this unprecedented crisis, many organisations and individuals have come together to raise funds for those severely impacted by the pandemic.

WhatsApp chat groups consisting of concerned citizens have mushroomed all over the nation, pooling their resources to cater food for their neighbours, offer services to those in need, and sell wares to earn some income.

It has been heartening to see the community coming together as one and doing whatever they can to help their neighbours in need and to help each other get through this health and economic crisis together.

However, the call for help from one group who remained without effective support were those of school-going children.

Most of the country’s resources were directed to fighting the disease and other immediate ‘visible’ issues. But the country’s students, almost overnight, were shut out from their schools and forced to learn from home.

Taken by surprise and unprepared to deal with this sudden change, the red flag kept rising higher and higher.

And with exams cancelled in 2020, and now UPSR dismantled altogether, the impact of Covid-19 on this generation’s education may not be known until it is too late.

One can no longer ignore both the short-term and long-term impact the lockdown has had on young school-going children, especially when progressive and planned learning has now been snatched from their hands.

In these months (now years) of the pandemic, students have been learning and absorbing only sporadic pockets of information.

The question parents need to consider is this – if your children have not mastered the basic building blocks of Mathematics and Science taught in Standard 4, how will they be able to understand the materials presented in Standard 5?

As schools remain shut, and major tests and assessments are postponed or cancelled for the foreseeable future, students are left at a disadvantage that will have a devastating domino effect for years to come.

In the long run, there is the very real danger of a whole generation of adults struggling to compete in an ever-increasing competitive world.

This is especially true among students from lower-income groups who have less resources to look for alternatives.

Recognising the problem, FM Global Logistics, a leading logistics solutions provider in Asia Pacific has embarked on a CSR programme to help underprivileged children keep up with their studies during the lockdown.

Partnering up with EDUKATE Malaysia and Free Malaysia Today, FM Global Logistics has invested in a CSR initiative to sponsor annual subscriptions to the EDUKATE e-learning portal for 200 students.

Targeted students are made up of economically underprivileged children currently in Standard 4-6.

Free Malaysia Today partnered in this project to provide a platform to highlight the need for a continuous stream of education for children.

When EDUKATE approached FMT, they readily agreed to share their resources to help encourage the business community to reach out and bring solutions to students in need.

An online learning platform, EDUKATE is available for students from Standard 4-6.

Through a myriad of videos, interactive content, quizzes and e-books, the platform provides learning content for English, Science and Mathematics, in accordance with the syllabus set by the Malaysian Education Ministry.

“EDUKATE allows children to learn online at their own pace. This is absolutely vital during a lockdown. It’s harder to learn when you don’t have a teacher by your side.

“However, the topics on the EDUKATE platform are segmented, giving children a chance to really take their time and get engaged, without worrying about being left behind. This is why we chose EDUKATE for this CSR programme,” a representative from FM Global Logistics said.

The company together with EDUKATE, is also currently working closely to ensure that the sponsored accounts are benefitting children in most need of it.

To date, more than 150 students, including 40 from two children’s homes are benefitting from the CSR programme.

The homes are SEMOA, an Orang Asli Education Centre located in Raub, Pahang, and Shepherd Centre Foundation in Semenyih, Selangor.

The two parties are also hoping to expand the sponsorship so more students can participate in this programme as the number of applications received were well over 1,000.

“When we first set out, we wanted to champion education for children through integration with technology. This is the way of the future when it comes to learning.

“We’re thankful for the opportunity to work with FM Global Logistics and Free Malaysia Today to help underprivileged students through this CSR programme, and we look forward to see many more benefit from online learning through EDUKATE,” said Murali Mano, CEO of EDUKATE Malaysia.

For more information about EDUKATE, log on to their website at www.edukate.com.my