The Level of Language Proficiency of Orang Asli Che Wong in Malay Language: The Analysis of UPSR Examination Results

Che Wong’s Language is a native language for the Orang Asli Che Wong students in Sekolah Kebangsaan Bolok, Pahang Darul Makmur while the Malay Language is their second language in everyday use and also in the classroom. This research is conducted to identify the level of Malay language proficiency in writing and comprehension based on the students’ UPSR results. The Malay language proficiency of Orang Asli Che Wong students in Malay language is found to be very weak. This is proven by the previous examinations results for the period 2008-2012. Although the students’ weaknesses in the Malay language proficiency cannot be justified based on their results alone, it is possible to serve as a basis to measure their weakness in the language. The weakness in the Malay language proficiency should be given serious attention because failing in the Malay Language subject will not only affect the students’ future, it will also affect the improvement of the Orang Asli Che Wong’s academic excellence in particular. This research adopts the interview method which includes Orang Asli Che Wong’s students, the Headmaster and the teachers who teach Malay Language in Sekolah Kebangsaan Bolok. This research is a descriptive study which examines the UPSR examination results and the interview results obtained during the research. It was hoped that the study would be able to identify the reasons behind the lack of Malay language proficiency in writing and the comprehension aspects among Orang Asli students and also the measures that can be adopted to manage and minimise this problem.