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Our Challenge Areas
For Cohort 3, SEEd.Lab has crafted challenges and problem statements which are reflections of real-world issues that exist within 5 domains:
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Education & Skill
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Food & Agriculture
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Health & Hygiene
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Personal & Financial Security
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Climate & Environment
We have zoomed in on areas of problem that could be explored further in fulfilling the mission of SEEd.Lab.
Find an area that resonates with you. If you have a Wildcard idea that does not fall into any of the domains, we want to hear them anyway! Submit your Wildcard idea via the Idea Submission Form.
Education & Skill
Globally, an estimated 70% of 10-year-olds are unable to comprehend simple written text. In Malaysia, the literacy challenge is equally concerning, as 43% of children in their late primary ages struggle with reading proficiency. This issue has profound consequences on children, as they grow up facing employment challenges, live in poverty as adults and find it more difficult to make use of opportunities to exercise their rights in society.
According to the Program of International Assessment (PISA), the proficiency levels in reading and mathematics amongst Malaysian students under the age of 15 is significantly lower than the average scored by those in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries. Only 54% of students attain at least Level 2 proficiency in reading, compared to the OECD average of 77%, while the figures for mathematics stand at 59% compared to 76%. The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reports that in 2019, only 82% of young people in lower secondary achieve minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics.
Addressing the issue of learning poverty is paramount to foster equitable and quality education in Malaysia. As we seek to provide every child with an equal opportunity to succeed in their education, we invite social innovators to contribute potential ideas and solutions to enhance literacy and numeracy proficiency amongst children in Malaysia, empowering them with the tools and skills they need to thrive academically and beyond.
Problem Statement:
How might we create innovative solutions to improve literacy and numeracy proficiency for children in Malaysia, to ensure equitable access to quality education.
References:
Malaysia Learning Poverty Brief, World Bank, 2021
PISA, Country Note 2018
Department of Statistics Malaysia, Environment Statistics 2022
Education 2030 Framework, UNESCO
Food & Agriculture
Malaysia's heavy reliance on food imports has become a growing concern, with agro-food imports reaching RM64 billion in 2021, surpassing exports of RM39 billion. Evidence from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reveal that over the past decade, food imports have accumulated to a staggering RM482 billion, while exports only reached RM296 billion.
In 2020, eight key items, which include cuttlefish, fresh milk, round cabbage, chillies, beef, ginger, mangoes, and mutton, exhibited import dependency ratios exceeding 50%, revealing vulnerabilities in the nation's food security. Currently, Malaysia falls short in producing sufficient food to meet the needs of its population and industries, with agricultural productivity standing at a mere 45% of the average for high-income countries. On the contrary, there are 17,000 tonnes of food waste daily.
The dependence on imports highlights the urgent need to increase domestic food production and find ways to stop wastage. By enabling increased crop diversification, expanding local farm production, and implementing efficient post-harvest practices, we can reduce import reliance and strengthen Malaysia's food security.
Problem Statement: How might we leverage technology and innovation to enhance crop diversification and optimise post-harvest production efficiency, to increase food security. References:
Malaysia’s Food Supply Unsustainable in The Long Term, Department of Statistics Malaysia, 2022
The agriculture sector contributes approximately RM101.5 billion (7%) to Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product and employs approximately 1.5 million people. The industry, however, is largely dominated by smallholder farmers - estimated between 500,000 to 600,000 farmers.
Smallholders are normally associated with small operators farming industrial crops, such as rubber, oil palm, coconut, cocoa, pepper, and kenaf, and food crops such as paddy, fruits, and vegetables. It is estimated that majority smallholder farmers in Malaysia operate on less than 2 hectares each, yet accounting for 97% of vegetable farms, producing 94% of rubber plantations and 96% of cocoa.
The productivity value of an individual smallholder farmer is usually low, making it one of the many contributing factors that hinders them from access to financial services such as short-term loans. This becomes a hurdle for farmers to increase their yield, as they are unable to use working capital to purchase quality seeds or adopt new technologies.
As many smallholder farmers remain without access to regulated loans and lack credit worthiness, they fall prey to informal loans which charge prohibitively high interest rates. This results in many farmers being trapped in a vicious cycle of debt and ranked in the lower income bracket of B40. Case in point, a paddy farmer’s mean monthly income, is only RM2,527.
Problem statement:
How might we enable access to finance for smallholder farmers so that they can increase their yield and income.
References:
Agricultural Transformation and Inclusive Growth - The Malaysian Experience, World Bank, 2019
Smallholders still crucial to agricultural sector, The Edge Malaysia Weekly, February 1 - 7, 2016
Health & Hygiene
In March 2023, it was reported that 5.6 million school-going children in the country have been found to face the ‘double burden’ of malnutrition - stunting and obesity. 20% of children under the age of 5 in Malaysia are stunted due to chronic malnutrition, with 12% of children under 5 are being underweight, and 6.1% are wasting (low weight-for-height) due to acute malnutrition.
Based on the National Health & Morbidity Survey 2019, 50.1% of Malaysians are overweight or obese; more concerning is the rise in childhood obesity, where 30% of children between the ages of 5 and 17 are either overweight or obese. Malnutrition not only hinders children from reaching their genetic height potential, but also impedes a country's ability to build up human capital, hindering overall progress and well-being (World Bank, 2020).
We are looking for innovative ideas and approaches to create and improve access to nutritious food, promote healthy eating habits, and build strong communities that prioritises the health and well-being of a progressive society.
Problem Statement:
How might we address malnutrition problems prevalent among Malaysian children to ensure optimal health and well-being of the younger generation.
References:
5.6 Million School-Going Kids in The Country Face Double-Burden Malnutrition, The Star, 2023
National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), 2019
Personal & Financial Security
In 2020, Bank Negara stated that the fragmentation of policies in Malaysia has resulted in the overlap and duplication of social assistance. This fragmentation has perpetuated inequalities, leaving marginalised and vulnerable groups underserved. World Bank reports that 1 in 5 households that applied for social assistance were turned down, and 1 in 3 B40 families did not receive any aid during the pandemic.
The Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) discovered that many communities face significant challenges in accessing aid packages due to factors such as illiteracy and a lack of awareness. There exists an information gap, where individuals, households, grassroot community leaders and social aid workers are unaware of the diverse range of programs available to them.
To address these challenges, there is a need to connect and unify the resources and information available on social assistance programmes. Creating a seamless and interconnected data profiling system can serve as an empowering tool for community leaders and social aid workers, facilitating efficient and targeted channelling of the right social assistance to those who need it most. By leveraging open data and AI, we can bridge the information gap and establish inclusive social protection that reaches every deserving individual and household in Malaysia.
Problem Statement:
How might we enhance the accessibility of scattered information and resources for community leaders & social aid workers, enabling the ecosystem to identify and leverage available social assistance effectively to create inclusive social protection.
References:
Economic, Monetary and Financial Developments in 2020, Bank Negara, 2020
Malaysian households during COVID-19: Fading resilience, World Bank, 2021
Education has long been considered a pathway to a sustainable future for individuals. However, this is not the case for many students who face disinterest or barriers to pursuing and completing their education. Statistics reveal that 4.5% of Malaysian children did not attend any form of school, while an astonishing 18% of school-going children dropped out before completing ‘Form 5’ in secondary schools.
Recent findings from The Ministry of Education (2023) indicate a significant rise in the number of SPM students choosing not to pursue further education (48.74% in 2021 batch vs. 35.16% in 2020). Financial constraints, including difficulties in paying tuition fees, transportation expenses, and providing pocket money for children, contribute to this issue. The cumulative impact of missing crucial formative schooling years and not pursuing higher education places the younger generation at risk of being trapped in unemployment, low-wage, and a cycle of poverty.
To address this pressing challenge, it is crucial to empower the young school dropouts and vulnerable youth, by providing them with comprehensive support and opportunities to explore both conventional and non-conventional career options. Through innovative solutions, we can equip them with the necessary skills, knowledge, confidence, and pathways to lead decent and self-sustaining lives.
Problem Statement:
How might we create pathways and resources that enable school dropouts to discover and pursue conventional and non-conventional career options, leading them towards self-sustainability and long-term success. References:
Are All Children in Malaysia Getting an Education?, The Star, 2023
Almost Half of SPM Students From 2021 Session Chose Not to Further Studies, The Star, 2023
Families on The Edge, UNICEF, 2021
Young adults in Malaysia are confronted with an escalating financial challenge - according to a survey by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), they typically struggle to effectively handle their finances, as majority of them possess limited understanding of general investments, capital market products and lack financial literacy. It is found that only 33% of Malaysians possess financial knowledge, and 47% of Malaysians are having difficulty raising RM1,000 in emergency funds.
31,140 youths are registered as bankrupt, with an estimated 47% of Malaysian youths having high credit card debt. According to the Agensi Kaunseling & Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK), the issue of debt is aggravated by consumers' inclination to live beyond their financial means, to keep up with current trends and fulfil their desires. This problem is compounded by the popularity of new solutions like “Buy Now Pay Later” making it easier for young consumers to spend beyond their means.
Meanwhile, fresh graduates face the additional challenge of a low starting salary, averaging around RM2,700 per month, making it even more crucial to equip them with the necessary knowledge and tools to build financial resilience and wealth.
Problem Statement:
How might we empower young adults with innovative ways to build resilience and wealth for long-term financial security.
References:
30% Malaysians feel their debts are burdensome: BNM Survey, New Straits Times, 2023
RinggitPlus: Finance Minister: 40% Of Millennials Spend Beyond Their Means, RinggitPlus, 2021
Financial Stability Review First Half 2022. Bank Negara Malaysia, 2022
Employers unable to meet fresh grads' high salary expectations, The Star, 19 May 2023
Climate & Environment
The world is confronted with significant challenges related to environmental degradation and climate change, forcing urgent action in order to achieve its sustainability goals. With a vision to become a carbon-neutral nation by 2050, Malaysia has set ambitious targets, including a 40% recycling rate by 2025 and a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030, as outlined in the 12th Malaysia Plan and National Economic Policy 2022-2040. However, there are significant obstacles to overcome.
One such issue is the alarming amount of waste generated each day, estimated at nearly 40,000 tonnes. Up to 95% of this waste ends up in landfills, posing severe environmental and health risks. Additionally, the increasing frequency of natural disasters has brought about unprecedented challenges that impacts larger populations and is costlier to manage. In 2021 alone, Malaysia witnessed five times more victims of natural disasters, leading to the establishment of three times more evacuation centres. The occurrence of flood incidents has risen by 21% compared to the previous year, further exacerbating the impact on vulnerable communities.
To address these issues, adopting a circular economic approach is crucial, which involves turning waste into products, implementing circular carbon practices, exploring natural-based solutions, creating sharing economy, and repurposing and reusing materials to build a sustainable and resilient society. In addition, inspiring and enabling positive consumer behaviour change is essential in encouraging people to make sustainable choices. Fostering collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders will help us to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and achieve our sustainability goals.
Problem Statement:
How might we create a sustainable future by leverage circular economy business model approaches in developing innovative solutions that drives positive consumer behavior change to tackle climate change and environmental issues.
References:
Can Malaysia achieve 40% recycling rate by 2025?, New Straits Times, 2022
Department of Statistics Malaysia, Environment Statistics 2022
Wildcard
Every voice matters. Every idea counts.
The Wildcard is a blank canvas dedicated to new explorations of creativity and explorations. If you have idea in mind that goes beyond the challenge areas identified, make use of this blank canvas to share with us your unique perspective on a different social challenge and potential solutions that would be able to make a positive impact in addressing the pain points of the community.