KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Collective Impact Initiative (MCII) is considering expanding its School Intervention Framework to Sabah, one of the states with the lowest school performance.
In a statement released yesterday, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) said issues related to teacher absenteeism, unstable electricity and internet access require long-term and customised interventions.
"A significant challenge exists due to the lack of comprehensive data on school needs and participation rates versus the availability of related capacity-building programmes in schools.
"MCII has conducted surveys and roundtable sessions with service providers and school teachers. The findings were analysed and published in the 'Needs Assessment: Education Capacity Development in Sabah Schools Report'," the statement read.
The study found the main challenges faced by the schools were related to learning resources, literacy, exciting learning environment, exposure to new technology in education, as well as the application of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in learning.
"Based on feedback from more than 410 teachers in the state and the support of initiatives announced in Budget 2024, MCII aims to penetrate into schools in Sabah with literacy, 21st century learning and STEM intervention programmes starting next year.
"MCII aims to further improve and validate our school intervention framework by partnering with local community leaders, education authorities, programme providers, and NGOs to develop and run customised capacity-building programmes in schools," it said.
It said the MCII school network has grown organically to 23 schools and includes nearly 40 programmes so far in Klang and Selangor, which focus on literacy and building a conducive learning environment in schools.
Meanwhile, MCII also welcomed the RM58.7 billion allocation for supporting and transforming national education in the 2024 Budget.
It said the allocations for education are more targeted at improving schools, taking student welfare into account, and empowering STEM subjects.
"As an education-based NGO, this news is highly anticipated, especially when the government has allocated RM1.9 billion for the work of upgrading and maintaining dire schools across the country, which also includes 450 schools in Sabah and Sarawak," it said.