First wave of Malaysian Education Blueprint achieved 3 main targets: Mahdzir

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025 has achieved three main targets in its first wave after the implementation period ended last year.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the three key achievements of the first wave of the blueprint were the mastery of literacy and numeracy (Linus) programmes by students; increase in pre-school and primary school enrolment; and, bridging the urban and rural gap.
He said that since the blueprint was launched three years ago, 99% of pupils had become literate in Linus Bahasa Malaysia, while literacy in English rose to 94% last year as compared to 63.3% in 2013.
In terms of enrolment, a total of 84.5% pre-school enrolment was reported last year as compared to 81.7% in 2013, while for primary school enrolment, 98% was recorded last year, an increase from 94.4% in 2013.
"The achievement is one to be proud of, as it is above the universal rate of 91%," said Mahdzir during the presentation of the blueprint's 2015 annual report here today.
Present at the event were education deputy ministers Datuk P. Kamalanathan and Chong Sin Woon, the ministry's secretary-general, Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad and director-general Tan Sri Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof.
On the education gap between urban and rural areas, Mahdzir said it was reduced by 31.6% by the first wave of the blueprint surpassing the 25% target based on the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) achievements.
"This achievement is the result of the collective and collaborative cooperation of all parties, including leaders and the education workforce as a whole," he added.
Meanwhile, the minister said improved public perception of Education and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses witnessed a jump in lower secondary enrolment percentage to 5.3% last year from 4.6% the previous year.
A total of 345 students had enrolled for the Upper Secondary Vocational Education introduced in 2015, and the number was expected to increase to 4,260 students this year, based on expectation of higher demand for TVET, he said.
Mahdzir in a press conference said the second wave of the blueprint - from 2016 to 2020 - would focus on improving student solidarity, access to education and quality of teaching and learning. — Bernama