Average primary school dropout rate kept under 1%

KUALA LUMPUR: The average dropout rate for primary school pupils from 2014 to 2016 was only between 0.26% to 0.74% in Peninsular Malaysia while in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, it was between 0.05% to 0.10%.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan said the average rate for secondary school students was between 1.09% and 3.59% in Peninsular Malaysia while it was between 0.41% and 1.18% for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan during the same period.
He said his ministry had established an initiative under the 2013-2025 Malaysia Education Blueprint on improving access from pre-school to secondary level and above to combat the problem of school dropouts.
"Through the initiative, guidelines have been provided to manage pupils at risk of dropping out in government and government-assisted schools," he said during question time at the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to a question from Dr Azman Ismail (PKR-Kuala Kedah) on the number of student dropouts from primary and secondary schools throughout the country.
Kamalanathan said an intervention module had also been prepared as a guide for teachers to carry out intervention programmes for students at risk of dropping out so that they could complete up to Form Five.
"At the moment, the guidelines and intervention module are being introduced in three states, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Kedah before they are adopted nationwide next year," he said.
He said the ministry was also preparing various assistance such as giving textbooks, Supplementary Food Programme, 1Malaysia Milk programme and the construction of hostels for students from poor families to remain in school.
Among other aid provided are school fees assistance, supplementary schooling aid, early schooling aid and Poor Students Trust Fund, uniformed groups uniform aid as well as hostel meals and vehicle aid, he said.
"In fact the ministry also provides scholarships to outstanding pupils from the lower income group namely the Federal Minor Scholarship," he said. — Bernama