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THE Education Ministry is working to reduce student dropout rates.
This, said Education director-general Azman Adnan, is being done through various initiatives targeted at prison inmates and underprivileged children.
Emphasising the importance of providing quality education for children from all backgrounds, he said the ministry is collaborating with the Prison Department to provide corrective education for inmates who are interested in continuing their studies.
Gaining knowledge prepares them for life after they are released from prison, he said on March 4.
Azman was delivering his mandate in conjunction with the start of the 2024-2025 school session in Putrajaya.
“Corrective education, which inmates can voluntarily sign up for, facilitates their integration into rehabilitation programmes, including sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam,” he said, adding that education empowers them to land better jobs when they are released.
Azman also said the ministry is focused on helping underprivileged children by establishing Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih (SBJK).
“The SBJK concept, introduced under the compulsory education policy, aims to prevent undocumented children, particularly those from vulnerable urban communities, from dropping out,” he said.
The Comprehensive Special Model Schools for Year 9 (K9) and Year 11 (K11), he said, provide educational opportunities from preschool up to Form Five to prevent students in rural areas from dropping out. — By JAAYNE JEEVITA
