THE Dewan Negara was told today the Education Ministry had submitted a draft proposal to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to make secondary education compulsory. 

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the move is the ministry’s commitment to ensure no student drops out at the primary or secondary levels. 

“At present, the education policy states under the Education Act 1996, education is only compulsory up to Standard 6, but the ministry is committed (to this issue) and we have raised and publicised (this matter),” she said in her response during question time.

She was replying to a supplementary question from R. Nelson, who asked if the ministry will make secondary education compulsory to ensure no child drops out after primary school. 

Section 29A(2) of the Education Act 1996 states parents must send their children to primary school for six years, failing which the parents could be fined not more than RM5,000, jailed not exceeding six months, or both.

Fadhlina said her ministry is implementing the Comprehensive Special Model School K9 and K11 programme.

She said the K9 programme is to ensure children do not drop out between Standard 1 and Form 3, while K11 is to ensure children remain in school from Standard 1 to Form 5. – Bernama, March 21, 2023.