Melaka’s Exco for Education, Higher Learning, and Religious Affairs, Datuk Rahmad Mariman, revealed that around 3,000 students in the state skip school daily. He said that truancy is not unique to Melaka but is a nationwide issue, posing a serious concern that could negatively impact students’ educational futures.
According to Rahmad, the main reasons students skip school include laziness, lack of parental supervision, and economic factors, particularly among secondary school students who work part-time. “Some students claim to be sick or have a fever but fail to submit medical certificates or notes to the school. There are cases where truancy lasts up to a month, and in some instances, even two months intermittently. This is an unhealthy trend as students fall behind in their studies,” he said during the 28th Melaka JAIM Kindergarten Appreciation Ceremony at Masjid Al-Azim Auditorium on Tuesday.
In response, Melaka has initiated the Melaka State Education Convention to discuss strategies for addressing student absenteeism. Rahmad said ten resolutions were proposed to be forwarded to the Ministry of Education (KPM).
“One key proposal to tackle truancy is to suspend students’ eligibility for government assistance, such as Early School Aid, scholarships, bursaries, and other educational support. Students who skip school for 30 days a year show a lack of interest in learning, and withdrawing aid can serve as a reminder to them and their parents about the importance of school attendance,” he explained.
Additionally, the state government suggested that parents of chronically truant students face legal action for failing to monitor their children’s attendance.
Rahmad clarified that these proposals are still at the resolution stage and have not yet been implemented, pending further action by the ministry. “Current procedures involve sending warning notices to parents and, if truancy continues without valid reasons, school suspension may be enforced,” he said.
For reference, Melaka has approximately 161,000 students and over 16,000 teachers statewide, excluding kindergarten and preschool students.
