Panel to chart education review

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin arriving for the opening of the national education management and leadership seminar at the Aminuddin Baki Institute in Genting Highlands yesterday. — NST picture by Abdullah Yusof

GENTING HIGHLANDS: The preliminary report on the review of Malaysia's education system and policies is expected to be completed by the end of the year, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said. He said a committee, led by Education director-general Datuk Abd Ghafar Mahmud, will be formed to look into every aspect of the country's education.

Its members would be chosen after the ministry had identified areas for review, he said.

The report would then be presented to the prime minister and a full review will be conducted. Its findings would be made public, he added.
Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said although tens of millions of Malaysians had gone through the system and benefited from it, it was reasonable for the government to re-examine all aspects of the country's education system to determine weaknesses and improve them.

He said there had been feedback from several parties questioning the effectiveness of Malaysia's education and whether it still subscribed to its original targets and objectives.

"We have seen major developments in the country and a steady economic growth. So, to say that our education system and policies are ineffective is inaccurate," he said in his speech before opening the 18th national education management and leadership seminar at the Aminuddin Baki Institute here yesterday.

Some 300 participants, including Education Department heads, principals and teachers, attended the seminar.

In his recent trip to Surabaya, Muhyiddin had said that the ministry was in the midst of preparing a report on the proposed review of the national education system to improve the quality of national education.

He had said that a complete evaluation of the system would take place based on the latest trends and developments locally and internationally and to see if the current education system was still effective in producing the necessary human capital and personal qualities that are needed in the future.

To a question from a member of the audience during a question and answer session at the seminar, Muhyiddin said it was important to get feedback from people on the ground, including parents and the parent-teacher associations.

"We should not take their views lightly. They are the ones who are at the receiving end of what we decide, good and bad. They are an important component in society and they have valuable views to offer," he said adding that engagement should be conducted with all parties involved.

Muhyiddin added that many people still viewed the education system as not good enough compared with other countries although there were schools in the country that were on a par with schools overseas.

"When there are views like this, it is best to re-examine the system and find out where we really stand in the global context and how good our education really is."

2011/07/26
By Lydia Gomez
legomez@nst.com.my