KUCHING: Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi is committed to addressing the pressing issues of school absenteeism and dropout rates within his Pantai Damai constituency.
He expressed his intention to closely collaborate with the local education bureau and the consensus body, including teachers, to confront these concerns directly.
“Absenteeism involves students who have registered but do not consistently attend school, while dropouts are those who initially registered and then disappeared. This is a problem in our schools within the Pantai Damai area.
“We do not want to see anyone left behind, especially our children. Hence, we will develop a strategic plan to find ways to cultivate an interest in learning among students,” he said.
He made these remarks during the Incentive Presentation Ceremony at Wisma SABATI here today (Sept 2).
During the ceremony, Dr Abdul Rahman personally presented incentives to 132 students from the Pantai Damai constituency, enabling them to further their studies at higher learning institutions (IPT).
As the Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, he reiterated the purpose of the incentives, which is to encourage more students to pursue higher education and provide them with the best possible circumstances for their academic endeavours.
“The incentives are also intended to alleviate the financial burden when they eventually enter university. Studying away from home can be challenging due to the associated costs, so this is to ensure that they can complete their studies with minimal hurdles,” he explained.
He stressed that this support was not only about realising the dreams of individual students but also about contributing to the pride and success of the local community.
Expanding further, he encouraged parents to engage in early planning to prepare for any potential challenges, whether psychological or financial, that their children might encounter during their educational journey.
Also present at the ceremony were Dr Abdul Rahman’s wife, Datin Siti Shorgayah Ahmad Zaidin; SMK Taho principal and Pantai Damai Badan Muafakat Chairman, Affida Helmi; and Pantai Damai Education Bureau Chairman, Siti Suhaila Majdi.
