Secondary schooling vital but needs support, say stakeholders

The Star

28-07-2025

PETALING JAYA: The amendment to the Education Act to make secondary schooling compulsory is not a punitive measure but to highlight the value of education in changing the lives of a child and family, says the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP).
Its secretary-general Fouzi Singon said as such, the government must also have the infrastructure ready to help students continue their education at secon­dary level.
'At present, the enrolment rate for secondary school is 93% and the ones left behind are those who are sick, poor, the Orang Asli and those who lack accessibility and are enrolled in unconventional schools.
'This amendment will help address the matter, but we must remember that many kids who drop out of school or play truant are those aged 15 and above (Form 3 to Form 5).
'This is because they are at an age where they no longer want to abide by the rules set by their parents or are left behind in terms of literacy.
'So this is where I think we should be focusing if we want to reduce the number of dropouts.
'We have to start thinking of other ways to keep them in school.
'One way is to start vocational school from Form 1. Currently, it only starts at Form 4 onwards or enrolment in Giat Mara programmes,' he told The Star.
He said this in response to the tabling of the Education (Amend­ment) Bill 2025 for first reading by Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Under the proposed amendments, the Bill seeks to amend Section 2 of the Education Act 1996 (Act 550) to substitute the definition of 'compulsory education' to include secondary education.
It also introduces a new provision – Section 32A – that empo­wers the education minister to designate secondary education as mandatory for all Malaysian child­ren living in the country.
Meanwhile, Dr Farah Nini Dus­u­ki, the Children's Commis­sioner to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), said the definition of education at secon­dary level should give children the option to pursue vocational training and homeschooling.
'The definition has to encompass the different types of education that are available for child­ren. The education modality must also be defined by recognising these provisions,' she said.
In terms of access to education, she said many children who are in detention or have dropped out at age 12 cited poverty or suppor­ting their families, or losing inte­rest in education, as reasons.
One of the challenges in confronting education reform is to keep school interesting enough so that children do not get bored and drop out, she said.
As such, Farah said that to keep the children in school, the Education Ministry and the authorities should assist them and their parents, especially single parents whose needs are even more incumbent.
'This amendment certainly goes a long way towards reducing incidents of teenage pregnancies, child marriages, child labour and children being in conflict with the law and involved in unhealthy vices.
'But this can only happen if social support and empowerment are given to the families and the children involved,' Farah said.
In Malaysia, primary education starts at age seven and is compulsory for six years.
While preschool education is not compulsory, it is available for children aged four to six.
The government provides free education for primary school pupils.
Previously, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the enrolment rate for primary school was about 99% and 93% for secondary school, but the ministry was hoping to improve the secondary school rate to 95%.