22-05-2025
Education Dept's constant engagement sees Sarawak's primary school dropout rate dip to 4 in 2024
File photo for illustration purposes only.
KUCHING (May 22): The Sarawak State Education Department's (JPNS) continuous engagement with pupils and parents has successfully lowered the primary school dropout rate.
Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Francis Harden Hollis said active engagement activities have prevented children, particularly from poor families, from leaving school.
'Continuous engagements with the parents and students are being carried out by the JPNS.
'The dropout rate among poor families showed a declining trend from 19 pupils in 2022 to four pupils in 2024,' he said in response to a question from Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap at the State Legislative Assembly here today.
Separately, he said a special recruitment exercise under the Contract of Service scheme was carried out in 2024 to address teacher shortages in Sarawak.
Harden said the initiative was conducted in collaboration with the Education Service Commission, Ministry of Education, and JPNS.
Under the scheme, both education and non-education graduates were hired.
He said a dedicated committee is also monitoring teacher vacancies to ensure timely replacements as part of ongoing efforts to stabilise the teaching workforce across the state.
In addition to tackling teacher shortages, he said the ministry is also prioritising the issue of dilapidated schools.
'Continuous efforts are being made to improve school facilities under the upgrading and rebuilding of dilapidated schools throughout Sarawak,' he said. dropout Francis Harden Hollis lead primary school
