Factors Contributing to Illiteracy Problem among Orang Asli Students in Terengganu.

Wan Muhaimin bin Wan Ahmad2011801048

Definition of TermsOrang Asli - refers to the indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia who are not Malay Muslims, Malaysia’s main ethnic group.

Nicholas, 2003

Literacy – the ability to read, write, listen, speak and communicate effectively.

Cooper, 1997

Illiteracy – literate problem; inability to read and write.

Cooper, 1997

Socioeconomic - refers to the parents’ level of income, their occupational status, their level of education, and the personal

possessions in the home. Cooper, 1997

Definition of Terms

Motivation - the arousal, direction, and persistence of behavior.Franken, 2006

Attitudes - An evaluative disposition toward some object based upon cognitions, affective reactions, behavioral intentions, and past behaviors ...

that can influence cognitions, affective responses, and future intentions and behaviors.

Zimbardo and Leippe (1991)

Introduction

• Orang Asli or the indigenous people is a community that contributes a lot to the development of this country.

• In Malaysia, the population of Orang Asli is 154896 people (JAKOA, 2010)

• These community is seen as less developed compared to other races in the country.

• In terms of education, the illiteracy rate is high; 49.2% of the people are illiterate.

Problem Statements

It has been observed that indigenous community are living in a widespread poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, absence of drinking water and sanitary living conditions, poor maternal and

child health conditions.

Bose et al. (1990), Chaudhuri (1990)

P A S T

N E W M I L L E N I U M

Children need to be prepared to be able to function effectively in a highly literate society. They have to demonstrate literate behaviour.

READ

WRITE

LISTEN

SPEAK

COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY

acquire the ability to

Cooper, 1997

CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH

ILLITERACY AND LOW LITERACY

Inability to use reading to master other subject areas

Low academic achievement

Poor self-esteem

Living life in poverty

Failure to finish high school

Unemployment and underemployment

Involvement in criminal activity

Intergenerational transfer of illiteracy or low literacy

Children

Adults

Allington, 1995; Jacobson, Olsen, Rice, & Sweetland, 2001

DeBruin-Parecki, Paris, & Siedenburg, 1997;Rush, 1999

Because of these consequences , i t i s important to prevent i l l i teracy dur ing ch i ldhood. Understanding the factors

that contr ibute to i l l i teracy i s an important step towards creati ng

inter venti ons to address the problem.

Theoretical Framework

Socioeconomic

Motivation

Attitudes & Participation

Accessibility

Learning Environment

Illiteracy

Bose et al (1990), Karine (2007), Andrejs & Antra (2008), Joshi (2010)

Beach (1996), Guthrie (1996) Cooper (1997), Kamarulzaman (2008)

Davidson & Snow (1995), Kamarulzaman (2008), Andrejs & Antra (2008),

Kamarulzaman (2008), Andrejs & Antra (2008), Joshi (2010)

Dickinson & DeTemple, (1998), Fitzgerald et al. (1991)

Research Objectives

1. To examine the relationship between family socioeconomic status and illiteracy problem among Orang Asli students in Terengganu.

2. To examine the relationship between motivation and illiteracy problem among Orang Asli students in Terengganu.

3. To examine the relationship between attitudes and participations in learning and illiteracy problem among Orang Asli students in Terengganu.

4. To examine the relationship between accessibility to education and illiteracy problem among Orang Asli students in Terengganu.

5. To examine the relationship between learning environment and illiteracy problem among Orang Asli students in Terengganu.

Research Questions

1. How does family socioeconomic status affect the illiteracy problem among Orang Asli students in Terengganu?

2. How does motivation affect the illiteracy problem among Orang Asli students in Terengganu?

3. How does attitudes and participations in learning affect the illiteracy problem among Orang Asli students in Terengganu?

4. How does the accessibility to education affect the illiteracy problem among Orang Asli students in Terengganu?

5. How does learning environment affect the illiteracy problem among Orang Asli students in Terengganu?

LITERATURE REVIEW

• Factors associated with effective literacy learning have been examined, identified and debated by many researchers throughout the years. (Stokes, 2002)

• Qualitative researches using teachers’ observations and interviews done have given us some strategies for effectual literacy instructions. (Pressly, 2002)

• Snow et al. (1998) state that due to the progressing technological society, there is a need for individuals to not only be literate, but also capable to read the increasingly more challenging materials.

• Although there are some progress in the area of effectual literacy instructions, many children are still experiencing literacy difficulties. (Snow et al., 1998)

• Research findings over the years have shown that children who are raised in poverty and whose parents’ reading and writing skills are poor, are prone to have reading difficulties. (Lyon, 1998; Snow et al., 1998)

• In addition to that, it has been observed that indigenous community are living in a widespread poverty and illiteracy. (Bose et al., 1990)

• In a relatively newer finding, Xaxa (2001) supports Bose et al., stating that indigenous people are still lagging behind very much against the general population in literacy and educational attainment.

• Andrejs and Antra (2008) have identified a few factors that lead to children to have literacy difficulties, namely the socioeconomic factors, collaboration of students and family, students’ reading habit inside and outside of school.

• Some factors suggested by Andrejs and Antra are also suggested by Joshi (2010). The factors suggested by Joshi are; the low status in health, education and economic, the access to schooling and effective participation, and also poverty.

• Besides those factors, other researchers looked into motivation as one of the factors that contribute to the issue. (Beach, 1996; Cooper, 1997; Guthrie, 1996)

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

Correlational research

Why? To examine the relationship between the independent

variables and the dependent variable.

METHODOLOGY

Population

Level 2 students from SK Sungai Pergam, Kemaman (43 students) and SK Sungai

Berua, Kuala Berang (58 students).

Total population = 101 students.

METHODOLOGY

Sampling Frame

Name lists of Year 4, 5 and 6 students from both schools.

METHODOLOGY

Sampling Size

87 respondents(99% confidence interval,

5.0% margin error)

Sampling Technique

Random SamplingCluster -> Stratified

Total sample

SKSP SKSBYear 4

Year 5

Year 6

Year 4 Year

5

Year 6

Significance of the study

SCHOOL&

TEACHERS

PTA

JAKOA

NGOs

School and Teacher

• Provide conducive learning environment• More reinforcement to the students• Provide more facilities and easy access to

reading materials.

Parents – Teacher Association

• Give awareness to parents about the importance of education.

• A platform for parents and teachers to share knowledge and ideas on how to improve the situation.

JAKOA

• Organise Education Awareness campaigns.• Provide amenities to Orang Asli people for

easy access to education

NGOs

• Supports – books, programs, motivation