KUCHING: Several states in Malaysia are looking to the Sarawak Education Department for guidance on reducing student dropout rates, as Sarawak currently holds the lowest rate in the country.
Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, stated that Sarawak’s success in student retention has attracted national attention, prompting other states to seek advice.
“We are recognised as the state with the lowest ‘keciciran’ (dropout) rate among school-going youth.
“Although we were not informed which states specifically sought our expertise, our Education Department has been engaged to share its experience,” he said after chairing the Sarawak Youth Development Committee meeting at Waterfront Hotel today (March17).
Abdul Karim attributed this achievement to strong collaboration between various agencies, including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Department of Education.
He also pointed out that Sarawak takes a broader approach to defining ‘keciciran,’ which extends beyond traditional dropouts.
“This includes students who remain registered in school records but have moved on to college or technical institutions without formally notifying their schools.
“We have even suggested redefining ‘keciciran’ to better reflect the situation in Sarawak.
“However, even under the current definition, our dropout rate remains the lowest in Malaysia,” he added.
He further noted that since the Covid-19 pandemic, youth perspectives have shifted, with many changing their career or educational paths.
He also highlights the need for a survey to assess youth well-being.
