WATI, Ali and the their two younger siblings are left alone at home for at least 12 hours on weekdays.
Wati and Ali have been caring for their younger siblings since early this year when Liza said her in-laws became unable to care for her two youngest children any longer.
In the mornings, both parents leave for work around 7am and try to make sure Ali, who is in Primary 3, leaves with them.
Ali walks to school, which is just five minutes from their flat.
Said Liza: "He usually has no problems, as we leave with him. But sometimes, when we have to leave earlier, he falls asleep and misses school."
She claimed that Ali's attendance at school is quite regular but, sometimes, every couple of weeks or so, he skips a day or two of school.
In February, Ali skipped a whole week of school because Liza and her husband had to leave earlier for work.
Liza said that Wati, however, is a bit harder to manage as she is in the afternoon session. She is in Primary 2.
Liza said: "Her brother tries to make sure she goes to school. He tells me when she skips school. Two weeks ago, I thought she had gone to school. But at the end of that week, he told me she had skipped the entire week of school."
Liza said their results have worsened, but declined to reveal their grades.
She said Wati usually waits for Ali to come home in the afternoon before she leaves the two younger siblings in his care.
Liza cooks for the family in the evening and her children eat leftovers the next day.
Liza bathes her one-year-old son and three-year-old daughter in the evenings after she returns from work.
Wati and Ali both know how to make milk for their youngest brother while their parents are away at work.
She said she is planning to get a pre-paid SIM card and leave the mobile phone at home in case of emergencies.
"I couldn't do this earlier as we had so many bills to pay. Now that my salary is higher, I plan to get this done."
She is unable to get a land line phone connection because of unpaid bills.
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