The government’s education plan has set ambitious targets for improving access to quality education throughout the country. Dropout rates tend to be higher in rural areas and among poor and marginalized students, despite focused efforts to improve literacy and other aspects of basic education in these areas. The government has attempted to narrow the urban-rural achievement gap through programs such as the District Transformation Program, the Orang Asli Education Transformation Plan and the Inclusive Education Program, though further efforts are required on monitoring achievements and quality assurance. Recent policies have sought to increase the number of teachers employed and to lower student-teacher ratios.