At-risk primary pupil boosts attendance rate, thanks to school's help

When Nur Syazliana Muhammad Zamri was in the lower primary levels, she had trouble going to school regularly, as her mother was busy taking care of her younger siblings at home.

- Amelia Teng

When Nur Syazliana Muhammad Zamri was in the lower primary levels, she had trouble going to school regularly, as her mother was busy taking care of her younger siblings at home.

But with the help of her school, Marsiling Primary, and a student welfare officer, the Primary 5 pupil began to turn up more often in school.

Her attendance rate improved to more than 90 per cent this year, compared with 70 per cent in the lower primary years.

Syazliana, who lives in a two-room rental flat with her parents and three siblings, received the Edusave Good Progress Award last year and was made assistant class monitor this year.

“The student welfare officer really motivated me to think positive and has encouraged me and my family over more than two years. She has been by my side whenever I felt upset and I could tell her things I couldn’t share with others,” she said.

Syazliana, whose father works as an operator assistant and mother is a part-time private-hire car driver, is one of the beneficiaries of the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) pilot scheme to help at-risk students stay in school and be meaningfully engaged.