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Lack of education awareness a factor in Orang Asli student dropout rate in Perak

IPOH: Lack of education awareness among parents is among of the main factors contributing to an increased number of dropout cases among Orang Asli students in Perak.

State Islamic Religion and Education, and Rural Entrepreneur Development Asmuni Awi said that being too humble and sensitive to the point that students from the community couldn’t be reprimanded or scolded by the school was also among the other factors.

"Besides that, the Orang Asli students are also not used to mingling with outside people and less motivation from surrounding community on the importance of education," he said in replying to a question by Ng Shy Ching (PKR-Teja) during the state assembly’s legislative sitting in Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan here today.

Orang Asli primary school students dropout rate (those who did not complete their study until Standard Six) recorded 5.04 per cent in 2016, 3.99 per cent in 2017 and 0.73 per cent this year.

Meanwhile, for the secondary school student dropout rate among Orang Asli community increased year by year with 36.35 per cent dropout in 2015, 40.01 per cent in 2016, 42.90 percent in 2017 and 51.06 per cent for this year.

In order to overcome this problem, the Perak Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa), district education office and the school have launched a task force to eliminate truancy by organising a motivational program to increase awareness on the importance of education to parents and students.

"Besides that, Jakoa has been distributing assistance to the primary and secondary students, such as RM2 to be given to the students who go to the school. Jakoa is also supplying food materials to the school in order for them to prepare for breakfast and lunch.

"Transportation is also provided to ease the students to go-and-back from school daily, including during the school break so that students who stay at the hostel can use the transportation," he said.

In reply to a supplementary question by Datuk Dr Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin (BN-Kampung Gajah), Asmuni said he welcomed the idea to apply the indigenous Maori in New Zealand’s school syllabus that also been practiced in Canada.

"It is very interesting to see the achievement and development of the Maori community in New Zealand and Australia. I have talked about this during a meeting with Jakoa on to have a visit to New Zealand and Australia to see how this education model works that also enhance the communities livelihood and social status," he said.

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