Sabah students still face issues to master “3M” skills

KOTA KINABALU - Sabah remains one of the states with the highest number of students who are still unable to read, write and count (3M), especially among Year One and Year Two students.

This was revealed by Education Ministry Focal Person Mohammad Arif Sakaran who cited the ministry’s data in the past two years from 180 schools and some 12,000 students who face issues of mastering 3M or numeracy and literacy skills, in the state.

According to Mohmmad Arif, his department along with the state education department (JPN) and education offices at the district level (PPD) have conducted various programmes to tackle the issue.

“That is the data that we received in the last two years and I am worried that the Covid-19 pandemic will further worsen the issue due to restrictions that have been put in place.

“That is why we need the support from all parties as we do not want Sabah to be left behind as these children will be our future leaders,’’ he said during an interview at Sembulan here on Sunday.

Mohammad Arif also weighed in on several other factors that contributed to the literacy and numeracy issues in Sabah.

“Among the reasons, Sabah is a huge state compared to Kuala Lumpur, Selangor as well as other states.

“Based on districts alone if we follow the PPD, there are 24 districts, that is why this issue is quite severe in Sabah and the majority of schools in Sabah are schools in rural areas.

“Apart from that, we need to instil some understanding to the parents because there are parents who might be busy and for that reason, the children are not well taken care of and subsequently face literacy and numeracy issues,’’ he said.

Mohammad Arif said he plans to conduct several programmes with other strategic partners to tackle the issue.

“I have worked together to tackle the issue but because of the pandemic, we face a lot of obstacles for us to proceed with the program.

“Recently, the country has entered the endemic phase so we can begin the programme by discussing with PPD as well as teachers in Sabah on how best to tackle the issue of literacy and numeracy.

“Maybe I would appoint experts from Universiti Malaysia Sabah as strategic partners as we also want to hear alternative views where even parents can work together with the education ministry, JPN to resolve the issue together,’’ he said.

Mohammad Arif also said the issue requires massive cooperation from various parties and not just state agencies.