WHAT comes to mind when Malaysia‘s political leaders declare that Malaysia’s strength lies in its diversity? Do we believe the claim that is being made? And if yes, do we believe that they too, believe in these pronouncements they make and that they will do anything to defend Malaysia’s diversity? There is ample evidence that […]
education ministry
Revamping education: Is the government up to it?
By Deborah Loh
THE idea of abolishing the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) exams shouldn’t have taken us by surprise when Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced it in June 2010. Those who follow developments in the Education Ministry might recall that plans to have school-based assessments instead of centralised exams […]
Let’s talk about sex, please
By Gan Pei Ling
TO its credit, the government is trying to introduce sex education in schools. From mid-2009 till end of 2011, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and the Education Ministry are implementing a pilot project targeting 16- and 17-year-olds in five schools. “The ministry hopes to use the outcome from the project to advocate for […]
“Remove the politicians from education”
By Deborah Loh
VARIOUS concerns about Malaysia’s education system emerged from the The Nut Graph‘s latest forum, Found in Conversation: Creativity and Innovation in Education. But they all centred on a key and not unfamiliar complaint: that education is too politicised. Whether concerns were about the curriculum, the lack of critical thinking, obsession with scoring As, lack of […]
Starting school at age five: Should we?
By Deborah Loh
PETALING JAYA, 2 July 2010: If the government wants children to start school at five instead of six, it must first review the existing curriculum for pre-school and Standard One, experts said. “There ought to be some reviewing of the curriculum so that there’s less emphasis on academic performance at such an early stage,” said […]
MIC wants SPM ruling reviewed
KUALA LUMPUR, 29 May 2009: The MIC has requested the Education Ministry to review its ruling on allowing students to take a maximum of 10 subjects only in the Sijil Peperiksaan Malaysia (SPM) examination. MIC president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu said that following a series of meetings with Indian Malaysian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and […]
Only 10 subjects for SPM from next year (Updated)
Updated 4.17pm, 28 May 2009 NILAI, 28 May 2009: Starting next year, students sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination will only be allowed to take a maximum of 10 subjects, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said. In line with the decision, there would also be changes in the grading system, Muhyiddin, […]
Why do SPM students take so many subjects?
KUALA LUMPUR, 27 May 2009: Quest for knowledge or a race to obtain more straight As? This question of insatiable SPM students trying to outdo each other in breaking the annual record of becoming the one who obtains the most straight As has the Education Ministry cracking its head for an answer. Deputy Education Minister […]
Gapena wants to see Muhyiddin
KUALA LUMPUR, 27 May 2009: Federation of National Writers Associations of Malaysia (Gapena), will submit a nine-point memorandum to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to express support to the “1Malaysia” concept and state its position on the policy of teaching Mathematics and Science in English. Gapena chief I Tan Sri Prof Emeritus Ismail Hussein said Gapena […]
Ministry to correct male-female teacher ratio
KLANG, 26 May 2009: The shortage of male teachers is one of the biggest challenges faced by the Education Ministry, said its deputy minister, Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi. At present female trainees make up three-quarter of the yearly intake. “However, most of the teachers posted to the rural areas are male. As such we need […]
