RASA: An all-encompassing programme aimed at getting Malaysian children back on track with their education has been launched, says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (pic).
The initiative, called the Anak Kita programme, seeks to tackle the school dropout issue and support students who have fallen behind academically, especially in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Post-Covid-19, our students have been facing learning loss and learning poverty. In response, the government has increased its commitment to resolving these issues, resulting in the Anak Kita programme, with an RM100mil allocation to ensure it is adequate and can reach the targeted children,” Fadhlina said during the programme’s launch at SK Rasa, Selangor, on Friday (Sept 27).
She emphasised that being left behind or dropping out of school can significantly impact children's lives. “Therefore, I believe that all parties must sustain the efforts made through this programme,” she added.
During the launch, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah noted that the programme was developed using the special RM100mil allocation in Budget 2024 to address learning loss and the school dropout issue.
Adopting a “whole of government and whole of nation” approach, the programme will be managed collaboratively by the Education and Finance Ministries, in partnership with Hasanah Foundation, corporate organisations, civil society groups, public universities, government-linked companies, international organisations, community leaders, parents and local communities.
The programme will focus on improving literacy and numeracy among primary school students, increasing the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) passing rate and reintegrating dropouts into the education system.
In a pre-recorded message, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described the initiative as an additional effort to get youth back into school, given the concerning number of dropouts.
He noted that while student dropouts are not a new issue, it was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. “The nation’s children cannot afford to be left behind and must be given all kinds of assistance to improve their abilities, providing space and even a second chance. Teachers must take on the responsibility to save these children and parents must also play their part,” he said.
Based on collected data and key objectives, three intervention sub-programmes have been developed to address specific challenges in primary and secondary schools, targeting 3,458 schools and involving 83,752 students. These sub-programmes are designed to benefit both students and teachers directly.
In a statement on September 23, Fadhlina highlighted that, according to Examination Board statistics, 10,160 (or 2.65%) of the 395,870 registered SPM candidates did not sit for the national examination last year. Additionally, 25,735 students, or 6.5% of the total number of candidates, were not eligible to receive their SPM certificate.
