KUALA LUMPUR: The Finance Ministry and Education Ministry are set to launch the "Anak Kita" programme, aimed at reducing student dropout rates across the country through a comprehensive, whole-of-nation approach involving various government departments and agencies.
In a joint statement, the ministries said the learning recovery programme was part of the government's broader strategy to uplift the standard of living, aligning with the Madani Economy framework, which seeks to improve the economic status of the rakyat.
"This programme focuses on boosting literacy and numeracy skills among primary school students, increasing Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) pass rates, and reintegrating school dropouts back into the education system," the statement said.
The initiative is being organised in collaboration with Yayasan Hasanah and will officially launch on Friday, Sept 27.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said that the programme was part of Malaysia's commitment to global education goals, including the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and the Malaysia Madani concept, which emphasises sustainability, well-being, and creativity.
"The Education Ministry is actively implementing educational reforms to tackle student dropout rates through six key pathways, including realigning the preschool system and introducing curriculum interventions," she said.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan stressed the importance of an SPM qualification in empowering young people and integrating them into the workforce.
"The government is committed to building a knowledgeable and competitive society to drive Malaysia's economic growth. Quality education nurtures character and intellect, essential components of a sustainable economy under the Madani framework. Education breaks the cycle of poverty, elevating families' long-term economic prospects," he said.
The collaborative effort also brings together corporate organisations, civil society groups, public universities, government-linked companies, and international organisations, all contributing their expertise to address the dropout challenge.
The learning recovery programme includes targeted interventions such as remedial classes, teacher training, and the use of digital learning tools.
In 2023, statistics from the Examination Board showed that 10,160, or 2.65 per cent of the 395,870 registered candidates did not attend the SPM exam.
Additionally, 25,735 students, or 6.5 per cent of those who sat for the exam, were not eligible to receive their SPM certificates.