MORE interventions are necessary to ensure Orang Asli girls in Malaysia receive equal opportunities for a brighter future, according to Datuk Sapiah Mohd Nor.
Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) director-general highlighted that economic struggles are a major barrier to education for Orang Asli girls.
Additionally, she said, geographical isolation further exacerbates the issue.
“Many Orang Asli settlements are located deep in forests, mountains or rural areas, making access to basic facilities like education difficult,” Sapiah explained, adding that unpaved roads and reliance on river routes mean long, costly journeys to school, discouraging attendance.
She emphasised the need for new policies and incentives, as well as improved rural education infrastructure to remove logistical barriers.
“Providing school uniform assistance – including shoes and socks – would encourage attendance while reducing dropout rates.
“Additionally, pocket money at RM4 per day for secondary school students would serve as an incentive to continue their education rather than dropping out due to economic hardship,” she said.
Access to food supplies, she added, is another critical factor in keeping Orang Asli girls in school, especially in rural areas where food insecurity is prevalent.
“The provision of meals should be valued at RM10 per student daily, and should extend beyond just lunch to include morning and evening meals based on students’ needs,” she said.
She also said that reliable and affordable transport services are needed, whether by land or water, with government funding to cover high travel costs.
“For example, students using unpaved roads require higher subsidies, while those travelling by boat may need a lump sum assistance of up to RM550.
“Additional miscellaneous support, such as covering school fees and hostel living assistance, would further ease the financial burden on families and create a more conducive learning environment for these students,” she said.
Sapiah added that initiatives to ensure Orang Asli female students have equal access to education and better future opportunities should include awareness campaigns to emphasise the importance of education for young girls among parents and the Orang Asli community.
“Jakoa collaborates with the Education Ministry, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and the private sector to expose students to the importance of education at all levels,” she said.
The department also strengthens support for Orang Asli female students through additional assistance, career pathway programmes and motivational sessions.
“Vocational education programmes are an example of alternative for female students who are unable to continue formal academic education.
“Offering skill-based courses such as tailoring, handicrafts, agriculture and entrepreneurship will enable them to generate their own income,” she said.
Child activist and Yayasan Chow Kit founder Datuk Dr Hartini Zainudin said the most effective interventions to help girls complete their studies involve financial aid and scholarships, improving school infrastructure and changing societal attitudes.
She stressed that expanding scholarship programmes like the “Biasiswa Kecil Persekutuan” (Federal Minor Scholarship) and introducing targeted subsidies for school-related expenses are important.
She added that conditional cash transfers are also an avenue for supporting girls from B40 households, citing that programmes that provide financial incentives tied to school attendance have proven to be effective in other countries.
She also emphasised the need for more investment in building schools in rural areas, ensuring all schools have gender-sensitive facilities, and implementing initiatives like subsidised bus services or school-provided transport to maintain consistent attendance.
Hartini further suggested introducing after-school tutoring or mentorship initiatives tailored for struggling students, as girls who struggle academically may lack access to remedial support or mentorship programmes that could help them succeed.
“Without such interventions, they may lose motivation or confidence and drop out,” she cautioned.
