False hope on her struggle for betterment

What a setback and disappointment to her, an OKU, who graduated with a master-degree but fails to get a job despite her numerous and continuous attempts! And what a ridicule to my repeated encouragement and advice to her that only education was the right route for her to weather the storm in her future in spite of her quadriplegic. To be frank, after graduation, her attendances to the interview for jobs always end up with failure for her to secure a job to enable her to have a decent and independent living.


Ms Khu, an OKU student of mine, now a close friend of mine became a quadriplegic after a horrific accident in 1999 and was paralysed from the neck injured and has to be seated in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Because of her immobile and asymmetrical condition, her mother resigned from her job and took care of her. Though her mother was illiterate, she knew the importance and role of education in daily lives. Under her constant advice and infusion, her daughter, Khu, realized the importance of the education on her future.


Before the accident, Khu was an ordinary high school student in Kedah. Knowing the importance of education, she passed her SPM in spite of her quadriplegic and furthered her study in Penang Tar college. This was the time when I knew her through the former President of Society of Disabled Persons Penang. She has been under my guidance as an English teacher for numerous years. My sharing with her and constant emphasis to her was Education was for life betterment and solution for independent living. Only knowledge via learning, obstacles and hindrance in life will be solved and reduced with wisdom enriched from education. Her never-say-die attitude had railed her through high school education, first-class honors degree in Social Sciences and finally master-degrees in Sociology. But to me, it seemed to me I had misled her that education would definitely help her as she still could not find a job to enable her to gain a humble living.


There is a quota for government department on the employment of OKU, however, it seems that the door has been shut to her. Khu, an student, after completion of her master-degree course in USM almost 7 years till now has been struggling hard but repeatedly failing to get employed both in private and public sectors. Despite her quadriplegic condition, when she was called for an interview she would attend irrespective the distance, Once, she even travelled to Bangi from her home town in Penang to attend the interview with her limited monthly income spending on travelling and lodging. But the end result was unsuccessful ! Khu, Is she an exemplary lesson for me to reiterate and repeat that education is for betterment of life? From Khu’s repeated failure to secure a job, have I to rescind ?