Ministry working with NGOs to solve students dropping out due to poverty

The Education Ministry is working with NGOs to collect data and address the issue of students dropping out of school due to poverty, which has been identified as one of the main causes of students not completing their education.

Its minister Fadhlina Sidek pointed out that the issue was not only the responsibility of her ministry, schools and teachers but needed support from an ecosystem of all parties including parents and the community.

"We are concerned but not defensive. That is why we conducted an intervention to address the issue, we are highly committed and we are not alone in this because NGOs and the community are also involved," she told a press conference after the launch of the Beluru Island Comprehensive School (K9) in Tumpat, Kelantan today.

Fadhlina said comprehensive schools like K9 were one of the steps taken to overcome student dropout.

"SK Pulau Beluru is the first K9 school in Kelantan. This is one of my ministry’s initiatives to address student dropouts. The school will ensure that these children are in school from Year One to Form Three," she said, adding that there are 19 such schools, including in Pahang, Selangor, Perak and Sarawak

"We will monitor the need to increase the number of K9 schools as time progresses."

- Bernama