KUCHING: Dayak Think Tank Association Sarawak (DTTAS) intends to continue organising education fairs for the rural population in the state.
DTTAS Education Fair 2022 secretary Jacqueline Martin said plans are underway to continue organising the DTTAS Education Fair in 2023 following the success of the education fair in Sibu on Sept 16-17.
“This programme is specially designed to convey information about educational opportunities, training and educational assistance to youth and students throughout Sarawak, especially Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia leavers,” she said in a statement, yesterday (Oct 31).
According to the Department of Statistics about 72.1 per cent or 390,000 SPM leavers did not go on to further their studies last year.
The department also reported that in 2019, a survey found that about 5.8 per cent of the approximately 32 million Malaysian population did not go to school or dropped out of the national education system.
The survey involved respondents aged 15 to 64 to find out the educational achievement of Malaysians.
“The findings are worrying when 72.1 per cent of the people of this country also choose not to continue their education to a higher level after SPM.
“The group that does not go to school consists of those born from poor families, a number of the Orang Asli community and the Orang Asal community of Sabah and Sarawak.
“This will become a serious concern if not curbed,” she stressed.
