KUALA LUMPUR: Early literacy detection and intervention efforts have reduced the number of Year One students lacking 3M skills—reading, writing, and counting—in 2025, says Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh
He said the number of Year One students who have not mastered 3M skills dropped to 49,677 in 2025 from 73,736 in 2024 and 76,262 in 2023.
In 2024, the ministry's early assessment found that 122,062 students (27.4%) needed intervention to learn 3M skills.
These students received extra help in phases from July to September and October to December last year.
"Overall, 59.3% or 72,385 Year One students identified in the early literacy and numeracy detection have successfully mastered the 3Rs in 2024," he said.
"For the remaining 49,677 students who have not yet mastered these skills, they will undergo a special remedial programme in Year Two."
Ahmad Saad @ Yahaya (PN-Pokok Sena) asked about special remedial intervention programmes for low literacy levels in Year One.
Wong said the initial intervention phase from July to September 2024 helped 39.58% or 48,308 students master the 3Ms.
The second phase, from October to December 2024, helped an additional 32.65% or 24,077 students from the remaining group master the 3Ms.
He said challenges in ensuring Year One students master the 3Ms are not limited to pedagogical aspects but are also influenced by socioeconomic factors, student readiness, and the home environment.
For students from B40 families and rural areas, the National Education Foundation (Yayasan Didik Negara) was established to mobilise community donations for students and educational institutions.
"We have provided early schooling assistance this year with an allocation of RM791mil, and the school meals and materials programme has continued with an allocation of RM869mil," he said.
The ministry has developed a preschool curriculum for 2024, focusing on enhancing students' readiness before entering formal schooling.
Wong said the ministry would expand the number of preschool classes, with 130 classes opened as of Feb 16, and more to come.
"Additionally, initiatives are taken to expand the establishment of ministry preschools not only in primary schools but also in teacher training institutes, secondary schools, vocational colleges, and other institutions under the ministry," he added.
