KUCHING: Ending schooling at the age of 16 could lead to higher dropout rates and worsen illiteracy in Malaysia, says Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) president Kullin Djayang.
He said the proposal, recently floated by Pandan MP and former Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, was a unique idea but carried significant risks if implemented without first strengthening the country’s education system.
Kullin said the readiness of teachers, as well as disparities in facilities between urban and rural areas, must be addressed before such a change could be considered.
“It’s not wrong to explore such ideas, but the risks are considerable. Many key aspects need to be improved first.
“If our education policy has achieved results comparable to developed nations, maybe we’re ready. But if not, this kind of shift will only create more problems.
“How can current teachers meet all educational requirements within that timeframe when the existing syllabus and assessments are already overwhelming?” he told Sarawak Tribune in an interview today.
Rafizi had told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday (Aug 4) that the proposal was aimed at allowing Malaysians to enter the workforce at a younger age.
He said schooling should end at 16 as Malaysia is an ageing nation, enabling young people to join the labour market by the age of 21.
However, Kullin said rural and interior schools often lacked facilities and resources, making it harder for students to master basic literacy and numeracy.
He stressed that students in these areas needed more time to strengthen foundational skills compared to those in urban schools.
He cautioned that implementing the policy without closing this gap could lead to negative outcomes for students in less developed areas.
“In urban areas, facilities may support new policies, but in rural and interior regions, infrastructure and learning quality are still lacking.
“It takes time for students, especially in underprivileged areas, to build strong foundations in reading, writing and arithmetic.
“If learning periods are shortened, dropout and illiteracy rates will certainly rise,” he warned.
