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PROTÉGÉS I
PROTÉGÉS
Issue no. 4 | 2020ssue no. 4 | 2020
Navigating Online Learning

Through The Digital Divide As A Sabahan

BY ANNABELLE EVE HYACINTH
3RD YEAR B.A. IN MEDIA STUDIES

my classes despite the poor internet connection, I
recognize the struggles and pain of my other fellow
Sabahans who cannot do the same. Moreover, it
becomes particularly challenging when it is the exam
season, and there is a time limit set by the. In fact, many
of my Sabahan friends have chose to stay in their
residential colleges nationwide during the MCO
because they do not have any Internet connection in
If there were one word I would use to describe 2020, their hometown.

it would be “confusing.” The virus and the pandemic's
Who could’ve forgotten the story of Veveonah, the
eventual declaration were so abrupt and unexpected
Sabah girl who went viral for having to spend a night in
that it has led us into a life of shambles. What was
a tree for better Internet connection just to answer her
supposed to be a fulfilling year for many, marking the
exams? There were lots of mixed reactions to the story-
end of a decade, has quickly become something out of
some were inspired, and some were angry over the lack
a post-apocalyptic and sci-fi movie, and we were forced
of development in her hometown and in Sabah,
to adapt to the new normal – wearing masks, social
generally. While her perseverance should be
distancing, sacrificing human contact, and cancelling
commended, having to climb a tree at the expense of
plans. For students, this also meant that physical and
your safety and comfort, just to get an education
face-to-face classes were replaced with online ones –
should never be an option had proper facilities been
with typical lectures held on Zoom, along with online
developed in the area. However, the reality of
assignments, and exams. While there are students who
Veveonah is a reality for most of us Sabahan students.
rejoice not having to wake up and attend physical
“...to have to climb on a
classes, others struggle with having to adapt and rely
fully on poor Internet connection. This is one of the
tree and spare your
struggles I am familiar with growing up in Kiulu, my
beloved hometown, in rural Sabah; but having to face it
safety and comfort, just
during my undergraduate programme was utterly
to get an education
unexpected.
should have been
Having lived in both Sabah and Kuala Lumpur, there
unnecessary...”
was instant recognition of how wide the digital divide
is. In KL, I would have no worry over missing a deadline
or the lagging video calls but here in Sabah, I would
have to calculate every action I make just to be able to In May, Sabah Education Minister Dr. Mistrine Radin
participate in my classes. I have had to pre-record my told Bernama that about 52% of students in the state do
presentation in case the line cuts off on presentation not have adequate means to participate in said online
day, climbed up the hill behind my house, or stand on a classes, including gadgets and Internet connection.
chair outside just to get better connection. When it
rains or during the daytime, the connection can even Some of my lecturers had told us to go to the city for
completely disconnect. better Internet coverage, but during the MCO and
CMCO, this task was a bit more challenging since we
While I admit that I might be more privileged than weren’t allowed to do so out of fear of getting infected
others, considering that I own smart devices to attend or being caught by authorities. Moreover, for students

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