KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed amendment to the Education Act 1996 (Act 550) is expected to bring Malaysia closer to universal secondary school enrollment and reduce student dropout rates.
Universiti Malaya Education Faculty deputy dean Associate Professor Dr Husaina Banu Kenayathulla said the Education Ministry is including a new provision under Section 32A (Clause 4) of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025 to hold parents or guardians accountable for ensuring their children complete both primary and secondary education.
She said such a provision could lead to more parents and guardians understanding the importance of education and encourage closer collaboration with schools to monitor their children's attendance, ultimately reducing dropout rates.
"If this Bill is passed, it will instil a greater sense of commitment and responsibility among parents to monitor their children's attendance at school, whether at the primary or secondary level," she told Bernama.
On March 19, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek reportedly said that the bill would focus on raising awareness for better student attendance while assuring parents who fail or neglect to send their children to school that legal action would be a last resort.
Fadhlina also said that the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025 will be tabled at the Second Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 15th Parliament (July 28 to Aug 12).
Under the implementation of the Compulsory Secondary Education Policy, the ministry is also committed to increasing the participation rate of students in secondary schools, which is currently at 94.86%, almost reaching the universal enrolment target of 95%.
On reducing student dropout, Husaina Banu said the government and schools need to ensure that the education provided is of quality and to provide a conducive learning environment, especially in terms of internet access and adequate learning facilities for the B40 group and rural communities.
"Teachers are also encouraged to use digital pedagogy such as gamification to attract students,” she said, adding that the current generation is more inclined towards learning digitally and would respond better to technology-based assignments.
She also suggested expanding the Supplementary Food Plan (RMT) scheme to the secondary school level, especially for students in the B40 group.
"We know that at the secondary school level, there are students who are embarrassed to receive RMT. So, I hope this assistance can be provided digitally, for example, through a card top-up system to prevent any stigma from their peers," she said.
Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Institute of Development and Inclusive Development of Malaysia deputy director Dr Anuar Ahmad described the bill as aiming to protect the future of students and not at punishing parents.
"To me, this bill is part of the exit policy. This means that we must use various methods to ensure that children go to school, for example by providing counselling to students, awareness to parents and assistance to students such as financial support and so on," he said.
He also believed that the concept of compulsory education should encompass various streams of education and not focus solely on academics.
"Not all children are interested in academics. Some are inclined towards technical and vocational education and training (TVET), science or other fields. Therefore, access to education needs to be diversified and not just limited to national secondary schools," he said.
Anuar also emphasised the importance of redefining compulsory education by including other institutions such as TVET centres, Mara institutions and Giat Mara so that more students can remain in the formal education system.
"Currently, the secondary school participation rate has reached 94%. Reaching 95% is not a big challenge if we are more open to the concept of compulsory education that is more inclusive," he said.
Touching on the issue of students dropping out to work at a young age, he said the government needs to align the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966 (Act 350) with the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025 so that the matter can be resolved.
"The Education Act makes it compulsory for children to attend school, but the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act allows them to work. So, I think there needs to be coordination between these two laws so that there are no contradictions," he said. - Bernama
