PENANG, 6 Feb 2013 - Concerns about the current phenomenon involving more male students losing interest inpursuing learning activities in school was voiced out by a teacher representative to the Deputy Prime Minister Tan SriMuhyiddin Yassin here yesterday.

It was also proposed that the government should review the existing method and to formulate one that is more effective in attracting male students to engage in learning, including introducing programmes to teach them basic vocational skills which will be beneficial to them in the future.

A principal of a school here said that he was concerned about the refusal of students paying attention at learning in school which can have a negative impact to the future of the students and schools, especially to those schools with average level students.

Responding to the question, Muhyiddin said the matter is indeed being given due attention by the government andefforts to address this issue are already under way, focusing on ways to counter this problem.

"The government is committed in transforming the country’s vocational education in an effort to attract male students to optimise their potential by enrolling in vocational training programmes other than academic programmes,'' said Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister of Malaysia.

Muhyiddin also answered several questions, including housing issues in Penang, the Bumiputera’s participation in the national economy, the “brain drain” issue and other related socio-economic issues in a specially arranged dialogueprogramme between the Deputy Prime Minister and the Penang professional groups, as part of his one-day working visit to Penang.

The dialogue, themed The Transformation Journey, was chaired by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Vice-Chancellor,Prof. Dato' Omar Osman. Also present were the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor MohamedYakcop and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen. Text: Marziana Mohamed Alias/Photo: Mohd. FairusMd.Isa/Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe