Adolescence
Malaysia has made substantial investments in health, education and sports to nurture the energy, creativity and talents of its young people to contribute to nation-building. While a majority of adolescents appear to benefit from such services and programs, there remain those who are especially vulnerable and require additional support and attention as evidenced by the country’s net secondary school enrolment of 66% for boys and 72% for girls in 2007*.
Lack of life-skills based education place Malaysian adolescents at greater risk of substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, bullying, teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDS. The lower rates in secondary school enrolment as compared to primary school enrolment is cause for concern to the Government. It indicates a number of young people are being left behind and unable to profit from and contribute to the country’s progress. The drop-off in enrolment is linked to other threats faced by vulnerable adolescents such as substance abuse. The National Drug Agency’s statistics indicate 78.67% of drug abuse cases detected between January and December 2008 were amongst users who had dropped out of school at age 15. There is also limited knowledge about HIV/AIDS and substance abuse amongst Malaysia’s youth. Without correct information and skills to cope with the growth to adulthood, some adolescents and young people experiment with drugs and engage in unprotected sex, thus increasing their risk of unwanted pregnancies as well as contracting HIV, hepatitis and other sexually transmitted diseases. Lack of life-skills also contribute to other social problems amongst some adolescents such as juvenile delinquency and bullying in schools. Young people’s participation in Malaysia is still limited to community work through uniform activities in school, journalists clubs in newspapers, through television and radio programs and youth clubs, but there are increasing opportunities for their engagement and involvement in civil and political life. A strategic approach is required to ensure continuity of existing programs and to empower a greater number of adolescents to benefit from participation so they may reach their full potential. * Source: State of the World's Children, 2009
Millennium Development Goal 6 Newsline 22 July 2009: 8 January 2007: 14 December 2006: 22 November 2006: 2 February 2006: |
