20,000 Year Six pupils can’t read or write well

It is heartening to know that the Education Ministry through its CDC (Curriculum Development Corporation) is attempting to tackle the literacy issue involving Primary 6 students. While, I think intensive teaching over a period of time a be good, continued efforts in early detection, intervention and support for students with learning disability is more important.

As I was writing this blog, I wanted to find out what were the activities carried out by the Ministry of Education (Malaysia) so far. I found out that in a article reported in the Dyslexia Association of Singapore a pilot program was suppose to have started by the Jabatan Pendidikan Khas which was to be implemented in 30 different schools nationwide by June. A check on the MOE website and the KPK wepsite - showed nothing of such an initiative. I wonder what happened. If anyone reading this knows anything about this initiative, please let me know.

I hope this news article is not just another reason to have someone's pictures or names appear in the newspaper [see article below] but a serious effort to ensure that students with learning disabilities are not left out.

KV

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Source: www.thestar.com.my


20,000 Year Six pupils can’t read or write well

Mahzan: ‘Such pupils are at risk of dropping out’

Monday October 23, 2006
20,000 Year Six pupils can’t read or write well
By KAREN CHAPMAN

PUTRAJAYA: About 20,000 Year Six pupils in schools have been identified as lacking in basic literacy skills and are currently undergoing an intensive two-month programme to help them. The number represents about 4% of 12-year-olds in schools who, after six years of primary schooling, are either very weak in reading and writing, maths or both.

“We are taking the matter seriously as such pupils are at risk of dropping out of the school system and can face a hard time continuing with their education or pursuing a career,” said Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) director Mahzan Bakar. He told The Star that the pupils were selected by their teachers based on their observation and the performance of the children in tests.

The intensive programme for them was conducted immediately after the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) in September and they will sit for an evaluation test on Nov 15 to see how much they have learnt. In August, Education Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Ahamad Sipon announced that those yet to master basic literacy skills would receive help under the “Three Rs (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic) Programme” (Protim).

Mahzan said the CDC worked with teachers to create two modules to help the pupils in both national and national-type schools – one on reading and writing, and the other on arithmetic. “Protim is carried out full-time during school hours. The classes are small to ensure these pupils receive individual attention.”

In general, most schools have fewer than 10 pupils who have yet to grasp these basic skills, he added.

“Not all the identified pupils will have to sit in for these intensive classes. Some who have already grasped arithmetic skills would only need to attend reading and writing classes or vice versa while others who lack these three skills will attend the whole session,” he said an interview after a visit together with The Star to SK Sungai Ramal Dalam to observe a Protim class.

Asked why some pupils had yet to grasp the basic skills, Mahzan said some of them could have learning difficulties that had not been diagnosed.
He said Protim which would become an annual programme, just like the Early Intervention Class Programme for Reading and Writing (KIA2M) introduced in April this year for Year One pupils.
The ministry introduced KIA2M to ensure Year One pupils would not go through each level of primary schooling without being able to read and write.