PM Anwar Visits 'Program Anak Kita" Exhibition At Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today spent some time visiting the Program Anak Kita (PAK) Exhibition Gallery at Parliament, underscoring the government’s continued commitment to addressing student dropout issues and strengthening the national education system.

The two-day exhibition, starting today, marks the highlight of the first-phase PAK initiative rollout, showcasing progress, impact, data, and success stories from schools nationwide.

It also serves as a platform for engagement with Members of Parliament and policymakers, highlighting the government’s Whole-of-Nation approach in ensuring education access for all children.

Director-General of MADANI Monitoring Unit at the Prime Minister’s Office, Mohd Khalid Mohamed Latiff, said the exhibition is more than a showcase; it is a policy platform to build momentum towards PAK 2026, which will focus on innovation in teaching and learning, community-based school support, and data-driven interventions.

He said the PAK initiative focuses on three key components, namely strengthening basic literacy and numeracy or the 3M skills (reading, writing and counting) among pupils, helping at-risk SPM candidates to pass their exams, and supporting dropouts or students at risk of dropping out to return and stay in school.

“We want to address the dropout problem and bring these children back to school. Education must be accessible to every Malaysian child. We want to give a new hope to these children,” he told Bernama.

As such, Mohd Khalid said the Prime Minister’s visit symbolised strong government commitment to the PAK initiative - one of the main agendas post-COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure that every child in Malaysia has access to quality education.

“The prime minister's visit has given a new breath and enthusiasm to all those involved in the PAK rollout. The government has also allocated RM100 million under Budget 2024 to ensure that we have a whole-of-nation approach in addressing the issue of student dropout,” he said.

Meanwhile, Yayasan Hasanah managing director Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki said partnerships with civil society organisations were crucial to the programme’s success, as grassroots organisations could deliver rapid and impactful results.

“We’re grateful to work with civil society partners who are closest to local communities. Their on-the-ground knowledge makes implementation faster and more effective,” she said.

Siti Kamariah said that PAK interventions have produced tangible results, as 90 per cent of students at risk of failing their SPM trial exams last year went on to pass and obtain their certificates after participating in the programme.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and several Members of Parliament also visited the exhibition, where they interacted with PAK 3M participants from SK Ampang Campuran.

Launched on Sept 27, 2024, PAK is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance, led by the MADANI Monitoring Unit in collaboration with Yayasan Hasanah, government agencies, civil society organisations, and the private sector.

Targeting over 83,000 students in 2,500 schools, the programme applies a data- and empathy-based approach to combat learning loss and ensure no child is left behind, which aligns with the MADANI Economy framework of inclusivity and social justice.

-- BERNAMA