'Anak Kita' Programme Boosts Academic Achievements Of At-risk Students - Fadhlina

NIBONG TEBAL, July 14 (Bernama) -- The Anak Kita Programme (PAK) is on the right track in supporting at-risk students, helping them regain confidence and succeed in their studies, ultimately improving their academic performance, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

She said that the intervention programme has proven effective, with 460 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2024 candidates from 11 schools in Penang showing excellent performance, following continuous support provided over the past year.

She added that 99 per cent of the students sat for the SPM, and 93 per cent successfully obtained their certificates, particularly in core subjects such as Bahasa Melayu and History, in Penang.

“PAK is a national intervention programme, which is both comprehensive and targeted, involving collaboration between the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), and various strategic partners,” she told reporters, after visiting Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Taman Widuri, here, today.

She added that, as of mid-2025, the implementation of PAK in Penang, covering 1,280 students across 64 schools, has shown significant positive developments.

A total of 71 per cent of students recorded grade improvements in Bahasa Melayu, while 44 per cent showed progress in History. For Mathematics, one of the most challenging subjects, 13 per cent of students managed to improve their grades.

The programme is being implemented in a structured manner, combining online tuition sessions with small-group learning activities, providing additional academic support for SPM students who need it most.

Commenting further, Fadhlina said that the programme takes a holistic approach, which caters to students’ specific needs, offering tailored interventions, personal coaching and subject-focused support, as well as psycho-social assistance and counselling.

“We believe this holistic intervention will have a broader impact, and will continue to be expanded. Likewise, we remain committed to sustaining and strengthening these efforts over time,” she said.

Launched on Sept 27, 2024, the programme comprises three main components: the 3M (for primary school students), the SPM (for secondary school students), and the Murid Cicir (for both primary and secondary students who are at risk of dropping out).

The programme, spearheaded by Yayasan Hasanah under Khazanah Nasional, in collaboration with the MADANI Monitoring Unit, aims to enhance mastery in literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy (counting) (3M) among primary school students, improve attendance and SPM results, and reintegrate students into the formal education system - ensuring they remain in school.

Meanwhile, Sekolah Kebangsaan Nibong Tebal and SMK Taman Widuri have been selected as Sekolah Angkat MADANI (MADANI adopted schools), reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening grassroots-level educational support networks.

-- BERNAMA