IPOH: In an effort to strengthen basic literacy skills among pupils, the state government has expanded the Propulih Programme to include not only lower secondary pupils but also primary school pupils.
Perak education, higher education, youth and sports committee chairman Khairudin Abu Hanipah said the initiative was introduced to ensure that pupils who are weak in reading and writing can regain their foundation skills.
“In 2023, we identified that some pupils in 'peralihan' classes and Forms One to Three faced difficulties in literacy, particularly in reading and writing. If they cannot master these skills, how will they be ready for examinations?
“So in 2024, we launched Propulih Programme 1.0, mainly targeting 'peralihan' and lower secondary pupils by distributing modules to schools," he told reporters after the launch of Propulih Perak Sejahtera 2025 Programme by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad here on Friday (Aug 29).
"Although I don’t have the exact figures, feedback showed that the programme has helped improve literacy among the affected students.
"So, this year, we have extended the Propulih Programme 2.0 or Propulih Perak Sejahtera 2025 to primary pupils in Year Four, Five and Six, as many were also found to face challenges in mastering literacy," he added.
Khairrudin said the programme is one of the curriculum intervention plans approved by the Education Department to detect literacy issues at an early stage.
He added that the lack of suitable teaching materials, student attitude and family-related issues were among the key factors contributing to literacy problems.
“With these specially designed modules, it will be easier for teachers to guide these students. Our goal is to reduce academic gaps and ensure no student is left behind,” he said.
This year, the expanded Propulih programme will benefit 3,420 students in the state, involving 1,796 lower secondary pupils and 1,624 primary pupils.
“These figures reflect our commitment to ensuring that every child is given equal opportunities to succeed in education,” he added.
