IQ.Rock (2018)

IQ.Rock, a story about teaching the right thing, to the right person.

IQ.Rock is a play that tackles the issue of education, family, demographic indifference and race in Malaysia.

Have you ever really looked into the education system in Malaysia? Do you know what’s actually going on in rural areas like FELDA? IQ.Rock is an eye opening educational theatre that will bring your perspective deeper onto the education system in Malaysia. Typically, in rural areas, the word ‘education’ means almost nothing to the people there. This is because the “system” had them thinking that education is not to gain knowledge but merely a phase in life that most have to get through in order to get a certificate to work in factories. How messed up is that?

Azim, an ordinary Form 5 student who goes to SMK Sri Serting in FELDA living a tough life always helping his father rubber tap in the morning before he goes to school. His parents are both illiterate and do not have knowledge in anything other than rubber tapping skills. Being the kind and understanding son Azim is, he tries his level best to help his father whenever he is able to although he had always wanted to leave his hometown to gain more knowledge. Unfortunately, he is unable to do so due to his family’s financial constraint. What makes Azim stand out from his group of friends is that he takes initiative to read as much as he can whenever he can because reading is knowledge and knowledge is power.

Mary, a 50 years old English teacher, who all her life has been teaching in the elite schools, suddenly decides to teach in a rural area, where the English subject is one of the worst in Malaysia, thinking that she can make a difference. Little that she knows, the students there despises all English teachers before her, because the different background that they don’t find appealing. Mary has to bond with the students, she cannot teach them English, because none of them understands the language. She teaches them about life, about tolerance, about friendship, about trust, about sacrifices.

The form 5 students in SMK Sri Serting are going to take SPM at the end of the year, and Mary has very little time ensure the students to score in English subject. With all the complications, different stands in teaching, different backgrounds and more complications in such a small village, can Mary change the students perspective about education? Will the students pass their SPM in flying colours? Will Azim break out from the FELDA area to pursue something bigger?