Photo courtesy of Freepik
KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (Bernama) — The proposed amendment to the Education Act 1996 (Act 550) is expected to have a positive impact on achieving universal secondary school enrollment and reducing student dropout rates.
Deputy Dean of Higher Degree at the Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya, Associate Professor Dr Husaina Banu Kenayathulla said the Ministry of Education (MOE) is including a new provision under Section 32A (Clause 4) of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, which holds parents or guardians accountable for ensuring their children complete both primary and secondary education.
She said that with such a provision in the law, parents and guardians would understand the importance of education and encourage closer collaboration with schools to monitor their children’s attendance, ultimately reducing dropout rates.
“If this Bill is passed, it will instil a greater sense of commitment and responsibility among parents to monitor their children’s attendance at school, whether at the primary or secondary level,” she told Bernama.
On March 19, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek was reported to have said that the bill would emphasise advocacy and awareness to ensure student attendance at school while assuring parents who fail or neglect to send their children to school that legal action would be taken only as a last resort.
Fadhlina also said that the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025 will be tabled at the Second Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 15th Parliament (28 July–12 August).
Under the implementation of the Compulsory Secondary Education Policy, MOE is also committed to increasing the participation rate of students in secondary schools, which is currently at 94.86 per cent, almost reaching the universal enrolment target of 95 per cent.
On reducing student dropout, Husaina Banu said the government and schools need to ensure that the education provided is of quality and provide a conducive learning environment, especially in terms of internet access and adequate learning facilities for the B40 group and rural communities.
“Teachers are also encouraged to use digital pedagogy such as gamification to attract students. We need to show that the current generation is more inclined towards learning digitally, such as giving technology-based assignments so that they are more excited to attend school,” she said.
She also suggested that MOE consider expanding the Supplementary Food Plan (RMT) scheme to the secondary school level, especially for students in the B40 group.
“We know that at the secondary school level, there are students who are embarrassed to receive RMT. So, I hope this assistance can be provided digitally, for example through a card top-up system to prevent any stigma from their peers,” she said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the Institute of Development and Inclusive Development of Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (MINDA-UKM), Dr Anuar Ahmad described the bill as aiming to protect the future of students and not at punishing parents.
“To me, this bill is part of the exit policy. This means that we must use various methods to ensure that children go to school, for example by providing counselling to students, awareness to parents and assistance to students such as financial support and so on,” he said.
He also believed that the concept of compulsory education should encompass various streams of education and not focus solely on academics.
“Not all children are interested in academics. Some are inclined towards Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), science or other fields. Therefore, access to education needs to be diversified and not just limited to national secondary schools,” he said.
Anuar also emphasised the importance of redefining compulsory education by including other institutions such as TVET centres, MARA institutions and Giat MARA so that more students can remain in the formal education system.
“Currently, the secondary school participation rate has reached 94 per cent. Reaching 95 per cent is not a big challenge if we are more open to the concept of compulsory education that is more inclusive,” he said.
Touching on the issue of students dropping out to work at a young age, he said the government needs to align the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966 (Act 350) with the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025 so that the matter can be resolved.
“The Education Act makes it compulsory for children to attend school, but the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act allows them to work. So, I think there needs to be coordination between these two laws so that there are no contradictions,” he said.
— BERNAMA