Pilihan Raya (Elections) is a small part of the national history syllabus for Year 5. Teaching in an Orang Asli school, literacy is a huge problem as almost all of our students in class have trouble reading, hence affecting their comprehension on a topic/subject. So how did we introduce them to what it is like and the importance of casting your ballots ? – We went #Undi11 !

We had four Yang Berhormats (YBs) who were interested in standing for the ‘elections’. Each of them shared their  own manifestos and their promises if they were the elected representative with the class. 

• Candidate 1 : Making sure books are arranged properly after use.
• Candidate 2 : Making sure the chairs are arranged neatly.
• Candidate 3 : Making sure that the class is clean at all times.
• Candidate 4 : Free Food for all !

Despite ‘Pilihan Raya’ being an important topic as part of the history syllabus, terms as such may not reach some children as they are not exposed to certain events/people/places. For context, this is the very time these children are hearing the term ‘Pilihan Raya’. So, how do you make learning history fun and making sure your kids are able to understand a topic especially when literacy is at near zero? You bring the outside world to them and let them experience it.

 A ballot paper with the candidate’s faces was given to each student. They were then taught what they would need to do if they would like to elect an individual to become their representative. As the person facilitating this activity, the teacher had to model drawing an ‘X’ in the space provided and then gave the students time to think and make their choices.

It is now time to cast their ballots ! After making their decision, the kids were asked to fold the paper into two and not show it to their friends. They were called forward row by row to cast their ballots into the ballot box. Due to limited resources – I had to make a makeshift ballot box wrapped in a Christmas wrapper. Which is all I had enough to wrap the box I found randomly lying in the teacher’s room. We also used a marker to mark their fingers, indicating that they have voted. Trying our best to make this experience as close to the real thing as possible.

When everyone was done, the votes were counted. We had an ‘Undi Rosak’ / Spoiled vote ( the kid ‘X’-ed on all of the spaces when he/she was supposed to mark on one).

It is now time for the moment of truth ! After the votes were counted and the winner was determined. There were objections from any party/individual – Candidate 1 was the elected rep. Congratulations!

I HAVE VOTED ! Though being 11 now, these children will be old enough to cast their ballots in a few years. It doesn’t need to wait till they are 18, we can start at 11 too. The right education to make choices, being informed and being given exposure to experiences beyond their realities can bring a difference to themselves as individuals and their communities at large. I Hope that this simulation gives my students an idea of why it is important to make informed choices and not be vulnerable to what others may say or think.

Written by Cikgu Shawn and Cikgu Johari Idris