Give early school leavers structured pathways, say experts

PAGE’s Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim and academician P Gopala Krishnan want the government to implement reforms to ensure students who leave early are job-ready.

Students who end formal education at age 16 must have access to options such as A levels, vocational training and apprenticeships, says Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim.  (Envato Elements pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Two education experts are calling for structured pathways to support students leaving school at age 16, warning that the lack of options risks undermining both individual prospects and national competitiveness.

Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim.

Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia chairman Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said school leavers must be offered viable options — including A- levels, vocational training and apprenticeships — to facilitate their continued development and opportunity.

“Without these, they risk being left without qualifications necessary for employment or higher education,” she told FMT.

Academician P Gopala Krishnan said without the availability of pathways, early school leavers risk entering the workforce ill-equipped for a modern economy increasingly driven by automation.

P Gopala Krishnan.

“Without strong vocational or technical alternatives early school exits may lead to low-wage and unstable employment,” he said.

Last week, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that under the 13th Malaysia Plan, preschool education would be made mandatory from the age of five.

The education ministry later said it was reviewing the technical and operational requirements for its implementation.

Asked if revisions were being planned to the Year One enrolment and SPM examination ages, education minister Fadhlina Sidek said details would be announced at a later stage.

Azimah and Gopala said the proposed schooling age of between six and 16 years mirrors systems in countries like the UK and Australia. However, they said any changes must be paired with reforms to ensure school leavers are job-ready.

Azimah said starting school at age six was common globally and developmentally appropriate, allowing children to build social and emotional maturity before entering formal learning.

She said an efficient curriculum must allow students to acquire core academic skills by age 16, allowing them to pursue further education or begin skills training without delay.

“Efficient schooling systems that avoid unnecessary years in formal education could reduce national education expenditure per student,” she said.

Gopala pointed to Germany’s dual vocational training model and Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education as examples of structured post-secondary pathways.

He said Finland — which, like Malaysia presently, admits children at age seven — is able to overcome any benefits offered by early enrolment through high-quality teaching.

Gopala said the “6-16” framework could work if supported by flexible, skills-based learning opportunities.

“The goal should not be to rush education but to optimise it, ensuring every student has the tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape,” he said. - FMT