Programme to help improve education for Orang Asli

THE Education Ministry is committed to implementing the Orang Asli Education Transformation programme via the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 to ensure they receive quality and relevant education in line with current needs.

Deputy Education Minister 1 Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said among the initiatives was K9 to K11 Comprehensive Special Model Schools.

He said the government, through the ministry, had set up hostel facilities in schools with 100% Orang Asli student enrolment, special programmes for Orang Asli students as well as an education transformation programme for the group with the aim of raising attendance rates, and an intervention programme for Orang Asli and Pribumi students.

“The Education Ministry is also taking the approach via various engagement sessions with the cooperation of government agencies such as the Orang Asli Development Department, state health departments, parents, community heads, non-governmental organisations as well as the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER),” he said.

Mah said this in a statement issued by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) during the launch on Saturday of the 2022 empowerNCER Academic@Perak Orang Asli Integrated programme at the Experimental Theatre at Sultan Azlan Shah Campus in Tanjung Malim.

The programme was organised by NCER in collaboration with UPSI.

Under Budget 2022, Mah said RM275mil had been allocated to the Orang Asli community to raise their standard of living through subsidies, school aid as well as welfare assistance to benefit almost 200,000 people.

Secondary school students’ pocket money was also increased to RM4 a day.

Meanwhile, UPSI vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff said the university was grateful to NCER and the Education Ministry for helping to advance education in the country.

Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) Human Capital head Datin Shahdee Ahmad said the programme, which began on Jan 2, involved 900 Orang Asli from 15 schools in Muallim, Batang Padang, Kampar, Hulu Perak, Kinta and Kuala Kangsar.

She said the programme was aimed at improving the academic achievement and attendance rate of Orang Asli students, especially in the transition phase between Year Six and secondary school.

Also present at the programme were UPSI deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) Assoc Prof Dr Norkhalid Salimin, UPSI registrar Helmi Zaifura Abdul Rahman as well as the headmasters from 15 schools. — Bernama