The issue of reading and numeracy among children is not something new, but the situation is now seen as quite murky after the Ministry of Education announced that a total of 122,064 first grade students in national primary schools have been identified to go through the reading and numeracy skills program recently.
In July 2024, an assessment test was conducted in primary schools throughout Malaysia to identify first grade students who need to follow this reading and math skills program. This program, which has already started since August 2024, will continue for three months in an effort to improve the efficiency of these students in that aspect.
According to a report by The Star, Director-General of Education Azman Adnan said that out of the 122,064 first grade students who have to follow this program, 62,928 of them did not pass the standard of reading and math required by first grade students.
13,669 of these pupils did not pass the standard for numeracy, while 45,465 of them did not pass the standard for reading.
The announcement of the reading and numeracy skills program is also not something new. The Ministry of Education has already announced about it around last March.