BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Education Ministry is finalizing a compulsory secondary education policy to address the issue of students dropping out of school, according to Minister Fadhlina Sidek. Under the new policy, studying up to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level would be mandatory, which is expected to prevent dropouts.
The Minister also highlighted enrolment challenges faced by the country for preschool and secondary school levels, but not for primary schools. She stated that primary school enrolment is not an issue as it has reached 99% due to the compulsory primary education policy.
Fadhlina added that to combat the preschool enrolment problem, the ministry intends to establish 118 new preschools this year. This initiative serves as an early intervention measure to prevent student dropouts at the early childhood education level.
She expressed her satisfaction with the response received by preschools, stating that the existence of two sessions indicates increased interest. Fadhlina emphasized the importance of supporting early education and the goal of having a preschool in every primary school.
The Minister also stressed the significance of early intervention in preventing student dropouts, including those with special needs. Early intervention helps in identifying the needs of students aged four to six.
Fadhlina highlighted that the quality of education in Malaysia surpasses that of other Southeast Asian countries. She attributed this to the requirement for preschool teachers to hold a diploma in early childhood education.
– Bernama
Credit: The Star : News Feed
