‘More pathways needed for students without SPM qualifications’
THERE is a need to provide more opportunities for dropouts to continue their studies, say stakeholders.

Malaysian Education Concorde Organisation (Me’didik) chairman Mohd Ridhwan Othman said some students were forced to drop out of school due to circumstances.

“Every student comes from a different background, some more privileged than others.

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“There are those who can study in the comfort of their home and others who have to struggle to get an education.

“I have come across students who decided to quit so that they could get a job and help their families.

“It is not that they did not want to study, they had no choice,” he said.

Mohd Ridhwan: Many students are forced to drop out of school due to family circumstances.

Mohd Ridhwan said it was unfortunate that students who decided to leave school early were often deprived of the opportunity to further their studies.

“There may be some programmes out there that cater to these groups, but there should be more.

“More importantly, it should be publicised extensively.

“There is no point in having the best programmes, but people do not know about them.

“Dropouts should know that there are doors still open to them,” he said.

Johor Youth Council deputy president Mohammad Alif A. Rahim said the government could come out with special programmes for these students.

“There should be other entry pathways for those who dropped out of school or got poor SPM results who want to enter higher education institutions,” he said.

“This could be in the form of an entry exam so that they are given a second chance, instead of being rejected outright.”

Mohammad Alif: There should be other entry pathways for those who dropped out of school.

South Johor Foundry and Engineering Industries Association’s education director Ben Teo Gee Lian said that giving school dropouts the chance to continue their studies would also be beneficial for industry players.

“We are always in need of skilled and semi-skilled workers who are capable of fulfilling the responsibilities given to them,” he said.

“There are those who may not have completed their studies but want to take up courses that could help them in their jobs.

“They should be given the chance to do that.

“We should always encourage those who want to learn new things.”

Teo, who has been assisting Johor Skills Development Centre in job placements, said more workplaces should accept these graduates.

Teo: We should always encourage those who want to learn new things.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Mazlan Ali said that another pathway school leavers could look into was the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning or APEL.

“Those with work experience but do not have academic qualifications could look into APEL as a way to access higher learning institutions to pursue their studies.

“An individual’s prior work experience, knowledge and skills would be identified, documented and evaluated through a systematic process introduced by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

“There are in fact many universities, including UTM, providing APEL pathways and I strongly encourage those wanting to pursue their studies to look into this option,” he said.

APEL, which was introduced by the Higher Learning Ministry in 2011, provides an alternative route for individuals without academic qualifications to continue their studies at higher education institutions.
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THERE is a need to provide more opportunities for dropouts to continue their studies, say stakeholders.