Working, marriage among reasons students drop out of schools

KUALA LUMPUR - Lack of interests, working, family issues, marriage and difficulties of going to schools due to distance were among the main reasons for students dropping out of school based on records in the Student Database Application System (APDM) from 2019 to 2023.

Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying said based on the ministry’s statistics, the rate of dropouts showed a downward trend from 2019 to 2022.

She said the dropout rate at the primary level had reduced from 0.12 per cent in 2019 to 0.07 per cent in 2022 while the secondary level dropped from 1.14 per cent in 2019 to 0.99 per cent in 2022.

“For the 2019 to 2022 period, primary school dropouts involved year three, year four and year six students showing an increase while years two and five showed no dropouts and a decrease.

“The secondary school level had an increase of dropouts for form two within the year 2019 to 2022 while figures declined involving forms three, four and five.

“The Education Ministry will finalise the data for the dropout rate in 2023 after receiving information of enrolment from other agencies,” she said when answering Lee Chean Chung’s (PH-Petaling Jaya) question on the dropout rate from the school system and the measures taken for them to return to their education in Dewan Rakyat here on Wednesday.

Lim added no dropouts from girls at a primary school level were shown compared to the boys for 2019 to 2022.

She said the dropout rate for boys showed a decrease since 2019 to 2022 which was 0.16 per cent in 2019 to 0.09 in 2022.

“At a secondary school level boys showed a decrease when compared to girls which had increased since 2019 to 2022.

“In 2019, the dropout rate for boys were recorded at 0.72 per cent compared to 0.29 per cent in 2022 while girls recorded 0.40 per cent in 2019 and 0.71 per cent in 2022,” she explained.

Lim added the ministry had prepared over 18 types of schooling aid for the year 2023 consisting of 13 specific aid and five types of general aid.

She said the aid was also distributed to those who had dropped out due to poverty such as the Federal Small Scholarship (BKP), Supplementary Food Plan (RMT) Poor students Trust Fund (KWAPM) Early School Aid (BAP), Dormitory Food Assistance (BMA), Dormitory Student Travel and Transportation Assistance (PPM) and the Uniformed Body Attire Assistance (BPS).

“The ministry had prepared the School Students at Risk of Dropping Out Management Guidelines (GPMBC), Highlight Self Excellence (SUDI) module and case study module along with overcoming the issue of students at risk of dropping out or students who drop out.

“It serves as a guideline for all guidance and counselling teachers in all government and government aided schools.

“The ministry will implement the Comprehensive Nine Special School Model (K9) for students to remain in schools especially those in rural areas. The schools were widened from 12 currently to 17,” she said.

She said the ministry would implement an outreach programme for dropped out students in all District Education Departments with the cooperation of the local community to aid the students come back to school.

In 2022, the programme had successfully returned 5,121 students in primary schools and 1,711 students in secondary schools.