CHAPTER 1 - REPORT OF THE EDUCATION AND PROMOTION WORKING GROUP (b) Right to Education for Orang Asli Children Although primary education is compulsory for all children, there has not been much improvement in attendance among Orang Asli children especially those living in the interior. At the same time, the Commission has observed that Orang Asli children who are enrolled are deprived of quality education. In some cases, children are deprived of education simply because there are no schools in or around their settlement. Mastering the 3Rs (reading, writing, arithmetic) is still a major concern for the children. At a meeting of the Focus Group on Orang Asli Education – steered by Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) – the Commission was informed that the Orang Asli form the majority of ‘hardcore illiterate’ children in the MoE’s Literacy and Numeracy Screening Programme (LINUS). The Commission’s Observations (i) Transportation A key factor holding back attendance is the lack of transportation to school. The Commission noted that the JAKOA has been making an effort to improve accessibility by providing vehicles. However, it was found that the number of vehicles is insufficient, thereby contributing to overloading. Those affected are students of SK Satak, Raub in Pahang, SK Batu 7 and SK Batu 14, Batang Padang in Perak and SK Pos Brooke in Gua Musang, Kelantan. Orang Asli children are frequently late or absent from school because of vehicle breakdowns 25