Radzi said government primary schools currently offered three additional “communicational” language subjects to students – Mandarin, Tamil and Arabic.

“The ministry has plans to expand the offering of these additional language classes in more national primary schools to make them the top choice,” he said in a written parliamentary reply to Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PH-Setiawangsa), who asked about the measures taken to attract non-Bumiputera students to enrol in national schools.

Radzi said the government was constantly seeking to improve national primary schools by fitting them with quality infrastructure and ensuring the teachers were competent, so that students can master the basic skills of reading, writing and counting.

He also said national schools sought to offer students sufficient support, establish a healthy culture and environment, and offer co-curricular activities to ensure their holistic development.

He said these initiatives were in line with the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025.

The blueprint, launched as part of Putrajaya’s efforts to improve the education system, aims to equip Malaysian students holistically and ensure they reach their full potential.