English Proficiency Among Orang Asli Students Satisfactory Says Fadhlina

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Education minister Fadhlina Sidek said the reading materials supported different Orang Asli tribes, improving their English language skills while respecting their heritage and culture. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: English proficiency among students, including the Orang Asli community, is currently at a satisfactory level and is poised for further improvement through digital reading materials, says education minister Fadhlina Sidek.
She said the enhancing reading through digital text (ERDT) materials under the Literacy for Orang Asli and Native Students programme would further boost their English proficiency, Bernama reported.
She said positive developments had been observed among the students so far.
“I think this is one of the best innovations in our field of education, which will give full focus to them and ensure that they will not drop out,” she said after launching the ERDT materials under the programme at SK Kuala Betis, Gua Musang, today.
Fadhlina said the teaching and learning materials, developed in collaboration with several other synergistic partners, would be used to strengthen English language skills among Orang Asli children based on their respective tribes.
“The technology used in ERDT can detect dropouts among students, using innovative methods.
“This innovation is important in ensuring that no child is marginalised in mastering the English language since attention will be fully focussed on the ability to familiarise the technology,” she said.
Fadhlina said the ERDT materials catered to various Orang Asli tribes, strengthening English language skills without undermining their heritage, culture and ecosystem.
She added that the expansion of ERDT would be implemented at the education ministry level, according to schools’ demographics.
On further education opportunities for Orang Asli students in vocational colleges, Fadhlina said such students could pursue technical and vocational education and training.
She affirmed that the ministry would provide equal opportunities for all students and enhance the skills of the Orang Asli community. - FMT

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