Instead of learning about algebra or science, the Bajau children are given a net and taught to catch fish, octopus and lobsters off their unique handmade boats. 
 The children reportedly spend so much time in the ocean that their eyes have adjusted to see more clearly underwater and much like sea sickness for those who live on land, they also experience 'land sickness' when they leave the water. In the rare contact they have with people on land, the refugee community travels to the nearby town of Semporna to trade seafood for the necessities you can't find in the ocean.
 

On the southeastern coast of Sabah, the Bajau were historically part of the Sulu zone. In 1878 the territory now comprising Sabah was surrendered by the sultans of Sulu and Brunei to the British North Borneo Chartered Company.

Kain mogah - Long handwoven wrap-skirt, with horizontal stripes, usually red and black.

Olos berangkit  - Full-length black wrap-skirt with a wide vertical panel (sarong).

Selendang - Scarf over the shoulders

Mandapun -  Flat cloth-covered collar-ornament accentuating the neckline.

Sarempak  - Two-piece head decoration in the shape of a ship made of gilded silver or modern substitute.

Galang - Silver bangles.

Subang - gold or silver ear pendants.

Keku  - Long tapered, gold, silver or brass fingercovers.

Ingkot pangkat - Silver coin belt with a wide buckle.

Suar- Trousers made of similar material in contrasting colour and red trimming. 

Tanjak -  Headdress of folded kain dastar (used for weddings). 

Ingkot pangkat - Silver coin belt with a wide buckle with an attachment called supu.

Selendang - Sash tied around the waist

The traditional belief system of the West Coast Bajau people are animistic in nature.
Animistic -  an interaction between spirituals beings and human beings.
Example : In celebrations, worship and exorcism — spirit boats are sailed into the open seas to cast the offending spirit away from their community. They also worship the God of the sea, Omboh Dilaut.

Now -  Mostly Sunni Muslims of Shafi School
They believe that among their people are direct descendants of the prophet Mohammed.

[] Among the Central Sama, both men and women share in agricultural labor and engage in trade

[]Fishing, building boats, and working with iron are primarily male occupations

[]Women generally weave mats and market pottery

[]Trade has also long occupied a central place in Central Sama society

[]Since long ago, seafarers were valued as suppliers of trepang (sea cucumbers), dried fish, pearls, pearl shells, and other marine commodities

[]Currently less than 10% of the school age children attend school despite the fact that the public schools are free to attend

⦁  Most of the Bajau people find it normal to be excluded from the education system.

 ⦁  Since born, the Bajau children who live in plantation area ( West Coast Bajau ) & sea area ( East Coast Bajau ) are without access to basic education due to :

➳  Legal status (stateless, no 

      traditional nomadic life ; seafarers )

      not able to attend government

      school )

➳Distance ( remote/sea area  )      

➳ Poverty ( very low income )  

                ✨Opportunity ✨

 ✿ Since 1996, Humana Child Aid Society Sabah has been providing primary/ basic education ( reading, writing, simple calculation ) for these stateless children. Their objective is to provide education, in accordance with the UN’s Child Rights Convention, via learning centres for vulnerable groups of children in remote areas of Sabah who do not have access to school.

✿There are 128 learning centres providing education for over 12,000 Bajau Laut and other marginalised children who do not have access to government schools.

✿ This learning centre has given them a hope for a better future as later on they can find employment in shops, restaurants or as tour guides.

- There are also other similar non-profit organisation that provide free learning centres to Bajau children :

  • Borneo Child Aid /PKPKM (Persatuan Kebajikan Pendidikan Kanak-Kanak Miskin)

                     

-The children are kept away from life on the streets which often leads them to glue sniffing and criminal activities. 

- Education also helps in improving discipline in children ( they are so used to having freedom since born ;  children as young as four catch fish, octopus and lobsters from handmade boats  )

"The illiteracy should stop at our generation: we don't want our children to stay on boats like us."