Interactive: Wong (third from left) visiting an exhibit during the 2024 National Orang Asli and Indigenous Students’ Education Carnival at Wisma Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: There are now 28 schools upgraded to specifically tackle school dropout rates among students in the interior, says Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh.
He said the Education Ministry is currently conducting groundwork, which includes going to Sabah and Sarawak to identify schools that can be used as Comprehensive Special Model Schools (K9) schools.
He said the final verification work will also be carried out so that all recommendations can be brought to the highest management of the ministry and the increase in the number of K9 schools can be realised when the new school session opens next year.
“If we talk about the education of Orang Asli and Indigenous students, we cannot run away from the dropout issue, so to address this issue, the ministry will expand the number of K9 schools by adding another 11, bringing the total number of K9 schools to 28.
“We aim to reduce dropout rates by allowing students to remain in the same school from Year One through Form Three, thus eliminating the need for transitions or transfers after Year Six,” he told reporters after launching the 2024 National Orang Asli and Indigenous Students’ Education Carnival here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Wong also announced that SK Betau in Lipis, Pahang, has been selected by the ministry for the Madani village adoption programme.
With this selection, the school will receive various enhancements, including upgraded Internet facilities via Starlink and tablets for most students to support teaching and learning sessions (PDP), he said.
Additionally, Wong said the ministry will improve the supply of clean water and electricity to the school’s new building, upgrade the open hall facilities, and complete a motorcycle repair learning workshop.
Regarding the 2024 National Orang Asli and Indigenous Students’ Education Carnival, Wong said the two-day event, which began yesterday, provides a platform for students to showcase their talents and achievements, as well as for teachers to share their experiences in improving PDP in rural schools.
“This carnival has brought together 185 students from 98 Orang Asli schools across Perak, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Johor, as well as 23 Indigenous schools from Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
