A 2018 study by Khazanah Research Institute found that despite going to school for an average of 12 years, Malaysian students receive only nine years worth of meaningful education. That means are about three years of a child’s schooling is underutilised for quality learning or educational enrichment. Does the problem of extreme teacher absenteeism contribute to this? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to child rights advocate Sharmila Sekaran, Peninsula Director, Tiada.Guru.