SINTOK- In an effort to address the issue of students at risk of dropping out of school, the Kedah Commitment to Educate Successful Students (KOMPaS) of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in collaboration with the Sime Darby Foundation and the Kedah State Government successfully introduced three products at the conclusion of a three-year research programme.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan, the eSEDAR policy, i-MOVE intervention module, and MyBUDDY smart tracking application are capable of assisting schools, the District Education Office (PPD), the State Education Department (JPN), the Ministry of Education (MoHE), and the state government in addressing the issue.
In addition, it is anticipated to positively influence human development and enhance the standard of education in the state of Kedah and nationwide.
“KOMPaS is a research initiative conducted by UUM in partnership with strategic partners, including the Sime Darby Foundation (YSD), the Kedah State Government, and the Kedah State Department of Education. Its aim is to address the academic priorities related to community development.”
“KOMPaS is a comprehensive and high-impact programme that is designed to reduce the likelihood of student dropout and assist students in completing their secondary education by acquiring at least the Malaysian Education Certificate (SPM).”
He said that the KOMPaS programme effectively implemented the concept of cooperation rooted in the “Quadruple Helix” model, which involves the coordinated efforts of the government, university, industry, and community to enhance the overall development of the target community.
“The organised activities have proven effective in nurturing the motivation and self-determination of students, supported by a group of UUM students known as KOMPaS Ambassadors, who share their experience and promote empathy.
“The outcomes of these three projects have been thoroughly explained to local communities in the Kubang Pasu, Baling, and Langkawi districts, and appropriate recommendations have been provided to enhance the community’s involvement.”
“Congratulations to the researchers, led by Prof. Dr. Rosna Awang Hashim, as well as the Permata KOMPas students, State Education Department officials, teachers, and UUM KOMPas ambassadors for their commendable efforts. This achievement underscores our commitment to education for all,” he stated during the Opening Ceremony of the KOMPaS Programme at Seminar Hall A, Convention Centre, UUM, this morning.
Dr Yatela Zainal Abidin, the Chief Executive Officer of YSD, stated that an initiative of this nature serves as a benchmark for the success achieved by UUM through scientific research.
Following the successful implementation of a pilot project in six district-level schools that provided a second chance to students at risk of dropping out, she hopes that the positive impact can be extended to all schools in Kedah and eventually spread throughout the nation.
She described the endeavour as a strategic collaboration aligned with YSD’s objective to improve access to quality and inclusive teaching and learning (P&P) and ensure that no students are deprived of an education.
“Out of the 180 students who were chosen for the three-year KOMPaS programme, a total of 157 are on track to achieve SPM 2023. The impact of this programme is significant, and we aspire for its expansion to create a more promising future for our children,” she stated.
She stated that YSD remains dedicated to supporting education, collaborating with higher education institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), teachers, and the community to provide Malaysian students with a high-quality education.
KOMPaS is a collaborative effort of YSD that has a significant influence by effectively assisting identified at-risk children to successfully complete their education up to form five. These children are now even more proud to be eligible to obtain the SPM certificate.
Furthermore, Prof. Dr Rosna Awang Hashim, the Head of the KOMPas Research Programme and the Head of the UUM KOMPas 1 Project, emphasises the seriousness of addressing student dropout issues.
According to her, pupils who are susceptible to dropping out are a crucial matter to tackle within the educational setting.
The KOMPaS programme combines expertise in educational psychology, communication, and computing to streamline efforts to prevent students from dropping out. This initiative is crucial for the well-being of both society and the nation.
“It is crucial to prevent their further withdrawal from education. Failure to address this issue could result in a financial loss of millions of Ringgit for the country, especially in the state of Kedah.
If left unaddressed, this issue will lead to heightened crime rates, increased poverty, and greater social inequality. Consequently, saving them represents not only an investment in education but also a commitment to the future of society and the nation,” she stated.
According to her, the KOMPaS Programme serves as a platform that combines three specialised fields at UUM, namely Educational Psychology, Communication, and Computing.
The first project undertaken by the KOMPas work team has effectively generated an eSEDAR policy aimed at assisting the state government, stakeholders, and agencies engaged in coordinating resources to enhance the education agenda in Kedah and Malaysia at large.
The second project, focussing on intervention, is led by Prof. Dr. Norhafezah Yusof from the School of Multimedia Technology and Communication. This initiative has successfully produced the i-MOVE module, an Effective Communication Intervention Module designed to enhance student motivation through a relevant communication strategy approach. This module is designed to be interactive and flexible, effectively engaging students and encouraging school attendance, as indicated by feedback from guidance and counselling teachers, as well as students involved in the KOMPaS programme with researchers.
The third project, which focusses on computing and led by Assoc. Prof. Noraziah Che Pa from the School of Computing, has resulted in the development of the MyBuddy application. This software utilises artificial intelligence (AI) technology as a pattern analysis method to identify students at risk of dropping out, enabling the provision of appropriate interventions. Through the utilisation of AI technology, MyBuddy effectively predicts the potential dropout rates and delivers pertinent information to authorities regarding students identified as at risk of dropping out, based on established benchmarks.
