KUALA KUBU BARU: A total of 83,752 schoolchildren from 3,458 schools nationwide will adopt the "Anak Kita" programme, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said today.
She said the programme was an educational reform initiative aimed at addressing the problem of dropouts.
"The programme will involve 83,752 schoolchildren and 3,458 schools. So, it will be big data because it will not only involve primary school pupils but also secondary school students.
"We have another intervention at the ministry level that has been implemented for year 1 students involving the 3M (reading, writing and counting/arithmetic).
"Perhaps, at this time, these children are included in the dropout data. However, within a month or two, they may have left the group," she said at a press conference after launching the programme at Sekolah Kebangsaan Rasa here today.
Present were Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi and Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyman Pang Sock Tao.
Fadhlina said the programme would have two focus areas. The first will focus on mastering reading, writing and arithmetic (3M), which will benefit students from Johor, Perak, Selangor, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak.
She said that the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia focus programme will include all states, while dropout initiatives for both primary and secondary levels will cover six states: Selangor, Kedah, Johor, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak.
When asked if the 83,752 students being targeted were related to dropout concerns, Fadhlina said of the number, they may either be at risk of dropping out or falling behind in their studies but had the potential to improve.
"So, we are not viewing it from just one aspect but rather looking at the potential that can be enhanced. We are committed to focusing positively on these students," she said.
Meanwhile, Amir Hamzah, in his speech, said education and the economy were interconnected, with quality education being fundamental to national prosperity.
"Education plays an important role in economic development because quality education improves the skills and productivity of our workforce, leading to wider job and income opportunities.
"Through education, we can produce a competitive and innovative generation that can contribute to sustainable economic growth," he said.