KOTA KINABALU, Sept 16 — The Education Ministry (MOE) sees the matter raised by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi about the national education policy in a positive light.
The current public school system does not conduct exams for Year 6 or Form 3 students.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said since the matter is aimed at improving national education, the MOE will probably bring the issue to the Cabinet to be discussed and decided.
She said in improving the national education system, the MOE announced the national education reform agenda including Technical Education and Vocational Training (TVET), science, technology, engineering and mathematics; glorifying Bahasa Malaysia and English and expanding preschool.
“We are also looking at preparations in terms of the new education development plan because the existing education development plan ends in 2025 as well as the implementation of the new curriculum that will take effect in 2027, so I think improvement and education reform is underway,” she said after a working visit to the Kota Kinabalu Integrity School here today.
Yesterday, Zahid raised the matter after finding out 10,177 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students dropped out last year due to problems with reading, writing and arithmetics (3M).
Fadhlina said the MOE is implementing a curriculum intervention program that yielded results in terms of identifying 122,000 Year 1 students who have yet to master the 3M.
“In addition to all programmes and also strengthening the curriculum level, including teachers training, we are strengthening the curriculum intervention program that we are implementing,” she said.
Meanwhile, she added that the seven Integrity Schools and four Henry Gurney Schools in the country must be strengthened in aspects of education and should be seen with the continuation of education to a higher level.
“We are very proud of their exam results as they have a record of achieving 100 percent passing in SPM, therefore, we must commit to ensure they have access to continue their education at a higher level.
“MOE already has several collaborations with the Higher Education Ministry, but I feel the opportunity needs to be opened up again, there are some opportunities that I can remember very well, especially those related to TVET,” she added.
She said Integrity Schools and Henry Gurney Schools are a reflection of MOE’s continuous commitment because the human element of the education agenda ensures no one is left behind in terms of access to quality education.
— Bernama
