Khairudin (left) says school attendance has risen to 91.17% in the first four months of this year. — Bernama
EXPULSION, marriage and lack of interest are among reasons why students dropout, says Perak executive councillor Khairudin Abu Hanipah.
The state education, higher education, youth and sports committee chairman said some students also dropped out to work while others left due to family problems or chronic illness.
Transport and poverty issues were also cited as reasons why 2,047 students and pupils left formal schooling.
From this figure, 135 were primary pupils and 1,912 were secondary school students.
“Perak Education Department is working towards reducing dropout rates across schools in the state.
“The department together with district education offices as well as primary and secondary schools are intensifying and enhancing four major high-impact programmes,” he said when replying to Koo Hai Yen (PH-Keranji) during question time at the Perak State Assembly sitting yesterday.
Khairudin said the four programmes were “Jaulah ABC (Anak Yang Baik Lagi Cerdik)”, “Outreach Murid Cicir”, “Ziarah Cakna” and “Platform Kehadiran Murid-Red Flag Risiko Cicir” (RFRC).
He said the first programme, “Jaulah ABC”, provided spiritual and motivational support to at-risk or dropouts.
The programme, implemented across all districts in the state, had shown promising results.
“Students who attended the programme showed improved attendance after participating in the “Jaulah ABC” Camp in December 2023.
“As for the outreach programme, this initiative aims to reconnect targeted dropout students with education, encouraging them to return and complete their schooling.
“The ‘Ziarah Cakna’ programme is a home visit initiative targeting families of students with frequent absenteeism, where the schools offer support to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment,” he added.
Khairudin said the RFRC programme was a monitoring system used to track and manage attendance of at-risk students.
“Using this system, we have seen an increase in attendance, from 87.41% in 2022, to 91.17% for the first four months of this year,” he said.
