Making Education a Priority Stakeholders Bring up the Issues That They Want Newly Appointed Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik to Look Into and Solve
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Sunday Star, 27 May 2018 (03)7967 1388 Ext 1808 (editorial) [email protected] 03-7965 8388 (advertising) 1300-88-7827 (Customer Sen/ice) thestar.com.my/education Making education a priority Stakeholders bring up the issues that they want newly appointed Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik to look into and solve. > 6 & 7 + Cover Story By REBECCA RAJAENDRAM, SANDHYA MENOIM and LEE CHONGHUI [email protected] Ready to serve DR MASZLEE MALIK was relatively unknown until Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad decided the Prime Minister could not hold Newly appointed Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik the Education portfolio as well. When Dr Maszlee was named the 19th heeds to know what has to be done to bring Education Minister, the public was confused as to why he was appointed, particularly improvements and changes to the sector. among parents and academics - the biggest stakeholders in the education sector. It did not help matters that he has suppos- EDUCATION MINISTER edly been in support of controversial Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik. | . Dr Maszlee Malik Since then, Dr Maszlee has insisted that he did not support the content of what Dr B| Education background: Zakir said but was in support of the preach- 8 1 er's right to freedom of speech. •Mfc"* * > Bachelor's degree in There was even a petition in favour of Dr Mahathir as the minister because Dr jurisprudence) and usul al-fiqh Maszlee was seen as an Inappropriate (principles of Islamic jurisprudence) choice. from Al al-Bayt University, Jordan and On May 22, Dr Maszlee told The Star, in Master's in same subject from Universiti response to those critics, that "being reli- Malaya gious is not a crime." > Doctorate in the field of Good Just three days earlier, Bangi MP Dr Ong Governance from University of Durham, Kian Ming has spoken up in support of Dr United Kingdom Maszlee's appointment in response to crit- > Other positions: Simpang Renggam ics citing his alleged "support" for Dr Zakir. MP, board member of Ideas Autism Centre, adviser of Teach For The Needs "Firstly, his CV is impressive and he should not be pigeonholed as 'just' an 'Islamic scholar'," said the DAP parliamen- tarian, citing Dr Maszlee's background from Tan says NUTP wants to meet with Dr Maszlee In 2011, it was announced that students his profile page on the Institute for soon to discuss pressing matters affecting who have started learning Science and Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas). teachers. Mathematics in English will continue to do The former International Islamic so until they complete their studies in University Malaysia lecturer and Assistant ministry, from students in schools to exams, Form Five. Professor in the Department of Political teachers' workload, bullying, English profi- Faridah says that when the policy was Science, though surprised by the appoint- ciency, soft skills to the needs of the higher overturned, it left teachers frustrated and ment himself, promised to give his all dur- education industry. students confused. ing his tenure. "We must have a policy to encourage our During his maiden address to all depart- Of ongoing policies and changes students to use more English to expose Dr Maszlee clocks in for the first time at the Education Ministry in Putrajaya on Tuesday. ment and section heads at the ministry after them to the world. clocking in for the first time last Tuesday, SMK Kuala Selangor English teacher "Many of our students have a weak said the Pakatan Harapan Government Faridah Kassim hopes the ministry will grasp of the language, and do not know "Students are then unable to understand know how to react to situations and apply would give special attention to the educa- consider bringing back a policy similar to how to express their thoughts and ideas. and follow what's happening. that in their answers," she says. tion sector, which is seen as an important the Teaching and Learning of Science and "Initiatives like PPSMI is a way to "It is vital to ensure our teachers are Aliya feels that the curriculum is still too pillar to form an inclusive, moderate and Mathematics in English (PPSMI). encourage them to improve their proficien- prepared to teach in the language," she exam-oriented. great Malaysia, as outlined in the 'Buku The PPSMI policy was initiated by Dr cy in the language and their confidence in says. "It's time to focus on equipping students Harapan' (Pakatan's election manifesto). Mahathir when he was prime minister and speaking it," explains Faridah. with capabilities that they need once Dr Maszlee's to-do list seems like a tall implemented in phases, beginning with Sarah, a teacher based in Petaling Jaya Focusing on core duties they leave school," she adds. Jaycee adds order but despite the initial scepticism, Year One, Form One and Lower Six stu- wants to see the end of the Dual Language that analytical ways of assessment, interac- stakeholders nationwide are hopeful and dents in 2003. Programme (DLP) and the reintroduction Teachers have too much clerical work to tive teaching aids, better classroom condi- believe he can pull it off. The Government announced the reversal of PPSMI. do, which take up a lot of time and as a tions, sporting facilities, and reasonable Dr Maszlee will be dealing with a huge of the PPSMI policy in 2009. She believes the PPSMI initiative was result, are unable to concentrate on their allocations are very much needed in more beneficial as she claims "the DLP is real job, which is to teach, says Faridah. schools. not standardised and students who choose Retired English teacher Wong Chiew Lee SMK USJ12 teacher Shirley Tan wants the other option don't get as much expo- agrees with Faridah's sentiments. the ministry to fix the teaching facilities that sure to English." "The time we have in school should be are available in schools, including comput- Another English teacher from Petaling spent interacting with students and helping ers. Jaya, Premala Devi asks that schools be them with school work. "We are not given proper tools and yet Dr Maszlee's 'To-do list" given more leeway when it comes to imple- "Many of us are dedicated to our voca- they expect us to deliver the goods," she menting the DLP for their students. tion. We stay back to give extra lessons sim- says. • Making the national school system the choice of parents and Currently, schools have to fulfil certain ply because we lacked time during classes," "In my school, I was surprised that the students. criteria, which include having the written she adds. computers provided are at least 15 years • Lightening teachers'workload by appointing teaching consent of parents, enough qualified teach- Wong says teachers have to wrestle with a old. They are very slow. Using these comput- assistants, having smaller class sizes and reducing clerical tasks. ers and classrooms, and a score above the computer server and software that are not ers frustrates the students." National Grade Average in Bahasa user-friendly. She adds that the Internet connection and • Giving special attention to the early schooling years to remove Malaysia before they can apply for the the emphasis on exams and rote learning. The process of A teacher in Kuala Selangor, Jaycee, says online learning platform are also slow and learning and teaching should be fun and joyful. DLP. long hours are spent on documentation not user-friendly. The DLP which gives students the online and offline that are subjected to cer- NUTP secretary-general Harry Tan hopes • Using the latest technology, including information technology option to study Mathematics and Science tain criteria. the union can meet Dr Maszlee soon to dis- (IT) in the teaching and learning process to give maximum in either Bahasa Malaysia or English, was Besides feeling like administrators, cuss issues concerning schools and the edu- exposure and experiences to the students. announced during Budget 2016. she says many of her colleagues opted for cation fraternity. • Encouraging students to be proficient in multiple languages. "Many schools which did not fulfil the early retirement as they cannot handle the These include administrative bureaucra- criteria have lost many students to interna- stress. cy, shortage of English Language teachers, • Strengthening technical and vocational education training tional schools and homeschooling, espe- Former National Union of the Teaching the lack of fencing and guard houses in (TVET) and science, technology, engineering and mathematics cially the high achievers," she laments. Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Datuk some schools, CCTVs placed in locations not (STEM) education. Parent Action Group for Education N. Siva Subramaniam says that in the past, for safety but to monitor teacher activity, • Providing more opportunities in STEM and TVET education to Malaysia (PAGE) chairman Datin Noor teachers had the opportunity to submit writ- closure of teacher education institutes and special needs students. Azimah Abdul Rahim hopes the new minis- ten suggestions to the Government towards no replacement teachers for those on mater- ter will continue the DLP and train more • Meeting and obtaining feedback from aH stakeholders including education reform. nity and long sick leave. teachers, lecturers, students and parents on the education teachers, to allow more schools to apply On another issue, Wong hopes that A parent who wants to be known as blueprints. for it. Dr Maszlee will look into the school curricu- Cheng hopes Dr Maszlee will give special "PAGE hopes the National Science Action lum. attention to students with special needs. • Allowing fresh graduates who draw a salary below RM4,000 to3 Plan and the National Science, Technology, "Subjects like Moral Education tell our "My wife is a special education teacher postpone repaying their PTPTN loans until they start earning Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students how to think.