Education for All: Efforts to Promote School Attendance within the Orang Asli Community of Sungai Pergam

HRMARS - This study aims to explore school attendance encouragement efforts implemented within the Orang Asli community of Kampung Sungai Pergam, Kemaman, Terengganu. A qualitative case study design was employed, utilizing a triangulation approach involving semi-structured interviews, field observations, and document analysis to collect comprehensive data. A total of 12 informants, including teachers, parents, community leaders, agency officers, and NGO representatives, participated in this study. The findings reveal that multiple stakeholders—such as the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (Department of Orang Asli Development - JAKOA), Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Melayu Terengganu (Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council – MAIDAM), MyKasih Foundation, schools, and local community bodies—have played crucial roles in promoting school attendance among Orang Asli students. Support provided includes daily meals, clothing and school supplies, the appointment of Orang Asli teachers, and the organization of student-friendly school activities. However, challenges such as dependency on aid, limited parental awareness, and the existence of chronically absent students (“tegar pemulihan”) continue to affect the overall effectiveness of these initiatives. The study recommends that school attendance promotion efforts be carried out in a more sustainable, contextualized, and integrated manner through close collaboration between schools, government agencies, NGOs, and the local community. The findings are expected to contribute towards shaping more inclusive education policies and interventions for marginalized communities.