Bei Muij Universiti: Disseminating Higher Education Awareness to Indigenous Youngsters

Abstrak

In addition to the significance of education for improving economic growth and skill development, higher education is also crucial for the indigenous community, better known as Orang Asli in Malaysia. Unfortunately, many Orang Asli ethnic minorities living in remote areas or highlands of Peninsular Malaysia face high dropout rates across all educational levels. This is often due to a lack of awareness of the importance of education, as well as limited access to educational institutions. As a marginalized community that has been neglected for decades, achieving higher education can significantly contribute to reducing poverty and improving their quality of life. In general, this study aimed to enhance the quality of indigenous education in Malaysia and promote the importance of higher education for Orang Asli students. The study was conducted using an exploratory sequential mixed-method design at SMK Sultan Ahmad Shah in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, where data was collected from 29 Form Six (pre-university) students. The results showed a significant increase in their awareness of furthering their studies in tertiary education. Before the program, only 19 out of 29 students believed that pursuing higher education was important for them, but after the program, all of them expressed an interest in doing so.