IPOH: Child marriages, poverty and transportation issues are among the factors contributing to the rate of school dropouts in Perak.

       State Education Committee chairman Ahmad Saidi Mohamad Daud said other factors include lack of interest to continue studying, already working, having documentation issues, afraid to attend school, and students with special needs.

       He said this was the case for both government and government- aided schools in the state.

       Attendance of the students are gathered based on the Web Based Students Attendance System.

       He said in the four years (2018-2021) on average, each year according to the total number of students for that year, between 0.03% and 0.06% of primary pupils failed to attend school due to various factors.

       “As for secondary school students, on an average between 0.7% and 0.9% dropout rates were reported,” he said when replying to a written question by Sandra Ng Shy Ching (PH-Teja) during the state assembly sitting yesterday.

       She had questioned on the percentage of school dropouts both for primary and secondary schools in the state from 2018 to 2021.

       She had also asked on the dropout rate among the Orang Asli students in Perak, the contributing factors, and efforts taken by the state government to overcome this problem.

       Ahmad Saidi added that some students who dropped out of government schools continued their studies in boarding or international schools, and some attended schools not registered with the ministry such as Madrasah and so on.

       He said a small number either preferred home schooling or migrated abroad with their families.

       On the issues concerning the Orang Asli, he said there was an increase in Orang Asli students attending school in 2019 compared to 2018.

       “A total of 91.4% attended school in 2019 as compared to 90.15% in 2018.

       “The dropout rate recorded for the Orang Asli students in 2018 was at 0.85% as compared to 0.72% in 2019.

       “However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the movement control order in 2020 and 2021, the figures showed a decline,” he added.

       He said the state government has been carrying out with various measures to reduce the dropout rates.

       “We carry our various programmes to encourage students to attend school, provide aid, set up hostels, provide free books and food as well,” he added.