The pandemic resulted in one of the longest education gaps: learning loss. Cikgu Nur Naqiah Mahadzir of SK Jelempok, Perlis, is one of many remedial school teachers working to aid learning recovery for students.
EDUCATION in Malaysia faces significant challenges, exacerbated by the unprecedented impact of Covid-19.
The pandemic widened existing learning gaps, with Malaysia experiencing one of the longest school closures in the region – 172 days.
According to World Bank data, 42% of 11-year-old students cannot read simple texts and in 2023, 10,160 candidates did not sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
Furthermore, many children have left the education system due to socioeconomic factors, contributing to a growing crisis of learning loss among Malaysian children.
No child should be left behind. The longer the learning gap remains unaddressed, the more difficult it becomes for children to catch up.
This learning loss creates deep inequalities – unrealised potential, perpetuation of poverty and a diminishing skilled workforce that threatens both individual futures and national progress.
Power of social changemakers
Collaboration across sectors is essential. Learning loss is not solely the responsibility of students, teachers, or parents and it cannot be solved in isolation.
The solution requires a whole-of-nation approach, including champions for the marginalised.
From government and government-linked companies to private foundations, civil society organisations (CSOs) play a vital role in raising the floor for the children of our nation.
This aligns with the Ekonomi Madani principle of raising the quality of life for all Malaysians.
As it approaches a decade of service, Yayasan Hasanah, an impact-based foundation under Khazanah Nasional Bhd, has worked closely with over 600 local changemakers in Malaysia, with education remaining its focus. The largest portion of grants is channelled to this cause, with each CSO offering unique and tailored approaches to meet the needs of each child.
For instance, Yayasan Hasanah, in collaboration with the Finance Ministry (MoF), supports the Literacy and Numeracy Rehabilitation Project in Perlis, run by Universiti Malaysia Perlis and Wesser Solutions.
This initiative employs technology-based tools for remedial students and engages unemployed graduates as mentors.
Targeted learning recovery intervention, ‘Program Anak Kita’ complements existing efforts to provide children with the tools and support they need for a strong educational foundation.
By the project’s conclusion in 2023, 80% of the 2,300 students from 74 primary schools in Perlis showed improvements in literacy and numeracy scores.
Another compelling example is the work of Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia (YFBM) in reintegrating Orang Asli children into the education system. The Orang Asli Bateq communities in Pahang face unique challenges, including limited access to education.
Supported by Yayasan Hasanah and MoF, the “Kelas Literasi Rimba Bateq” programme brings education to these children while providing access to nutritious food, healthcare and sanitation.
This holistic approach has significantly increased enthusiasm for school.
‘Program Anak Kita’
Khazanah Nasional’s delivery of societal value through Yayasan Hasanah align with its “A Nation that Creates” framework, which aims to invigorate the nation’s growth through upskilling and capacity-building.
Drawing from over a decade of experience, Yayasan Hasanah is expanding its efforts nationwide by driving the “Program Anak Kita”, a learning recovery initiative by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and MoF, set to impact 83,752 children in 3,458 schools.
The programme focuses on three key areas:
To achieve sustainable results, the capacity and skills of both teachers and students must be developed.
“Program Anak Kita”, implemented in schools by Yayasan Hasanah’s partners, emphasises student intervention and teacher capacity development.
Students engage in interactive learning through tablets and gamified digital content, while teachers receive coaching and training, improving the teacher-student ratio in remedial sessions.
This comprehensive support fosters growth in a conducive environment. Strengthening school leadership is also essential, empowering teachers as community shapers and equipping them with updated models aligned with international standards, including social emotional learning—an important factor for student success.
This mission cannot succeed without reliable and committed partners. Yayasan Hasanah collaborates with established partners that have demonstrated their capabilities in various personalised educational interventions, particularly in uplifting rural, Orang Asli and urban B40 communities across Malaysia.
In the spirit of innovation, Yayasan Hasanah recognises new partners and supporters who are raising their hands to help.
It is heartening to see participation from all sectors of society, including government, local universities, corporate philanthropy organisations, government-linked companies (GLC) and international bodies, that are exploring collaborative efforts through “Program Anak Kita”.
Reinforcing the sentiment echoed by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek: “It takes a village to raise a child.”
This collective responsibility demands unwavering commitment from all sectors, embodying the all-of-Malaysia approach.
The pursuit of progress begins with ensuring access to quality education for every child in Malaysia in the spirit of “Semarak Potensi Malaysia.”
Initiatives in Education by GDRN (GLC / GLIC Demi Rakyat & Negara) and Corporate Organisations
GDRN is a coalition of Government-Linked Companies (GLC) and Government-Linked Investment Companies (GLIC) that coordinates social impact efforts in a more holistic, organised and streamlined manner among the GLC and GLIC network. GDRN operates within three main mandates; Humanitarian Aid (Jalinan Kemanusiaan), Education (Jalinan Ilmu) and Wellbeing (Jalinan Sejahtera).
In Education, the GDRN coalition has extended support to children especially the marginalised communities, in various areas such as tuition, TVET, STEM and back-to-school initiatives.
Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan), KWAP
Reflecting on KWAP’s longstanding commitment to its CSR efforts, KWAP, through its Back-to-School programme and in association with the GLC/GLIC Disaster Recovery Network (GDRN), has partnered with MyFundAction to assist over 1,500 students in SK Sungai Pinang, SK Kampong Laut and SK Pengkalan Kubor 2 in Tumpat, Kelantan earlier this year.
The initiative included providing back-to-school packages, school supplies, as well as offering free haircuts. As a component of its post-flood relief mission, restoration activities were also conducted, focusing on cleaning and repainting school facilities affected by the flood.
Under the Kampung Angkat Madani strategic collaboration between the Public Service Department (PSD) and KWAP, the Back-to-School programme benefited nearly 100 students at SK Pulau Aman, Kampung Pulau Aman, Pulau Pinang.
Malaysia Airports
Since 2018, Malaysia Airports has supported over 3,500 B40 children in Lumut, Manjung, Semporna, Lawas, Kuching and Sepang by providing them with school supplies under the MY Airport Cares initiative.
Malaysia Airports also runs a bursary programme empowering over 500 students across 10 states to purchase books, school supplies and meals at school, ensuring their wellbeing to focus on their studies.
This programme is currently in plans to be extended under the Pecutan SPM programme as part of “Program Anak Kita”.
Yayasan Tenaga Nasional
A total of 2,260 Form Five students from B40 families have participated in the Inspiring Better Brighter Future Programme, a motivational and career profiling initiative by Yayasan Tenaga Nasional.
In 2025, this programme is expected to expand to Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah and Perlis under Program Anak Kita.
Yayasan TM
Launched in 2023, TM Future Skills (TMFS) promotes technology and digital education through STEM disciplines. To-date, the TMFS Certification programme has reached 5,061 students and 100 teachers across 50 schools through Train-The-Trainer workshops and hybrid classes.
Meanwhile, the TMFS Champion Schools initiative has provided technology and digital equipment to Digital Hubs, benefiting 8,060 students at SMK Gunung Semanggol, SMK Dengkil and SMK Tunku Putra.
Additionally, the TMFS Tech Titans Challenge, a three-day hackathon, has engaged 75 students and 25 teachers from 25 schools, utilising design thinking to foster innovation and generate STEM solutions.
Yayasan UEM
The Yayasan UEM Tuition Programme, which started in 2020, has provided tuition services covering all core subjects and meals for over 4,500 underprivileged Form 5 students in Kelantan, Kedah and Pahang.
In synergy with “Program Anak Kita”, Yayasan UEM plans to expand this initiative to other states as well as introduce a 3R (reading, writing and arithmetic)learning recovery programme.
