BALANCING POLITICAL HISTORY, ETHNOGRAPHY, AND ART: initiated in 1959 and completed in August 1963. The British did not provide a unifed THE ROLE OF A NATIONAL MUSEUM IN MALAYSIA It was ofcially declared open by His Majesty, school system. Instead they allowed a multi- the Third Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku stream education system structured by languag- Syed Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan es namely English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. Mr. Mohd Azmi Bin Mohd Yusof, Deputy Director-General (Museology), Department of Museums Malaysia Jamalullail (1920-2000). These language-based schools were known as Ms. Miti Fateema Sherzeella Mohd Yusof, Senior Curator, Department of Museums Malaysia vernacular schools. The aim was to meet the Ms. Noraini Binti Basri, Senior Curator, Department of Museums Malaysia At the time of its frst establishment, needs of specifc sectors of the economy of the the National Museum focused on Malaysia’s time. There were defciencies in the education INTRODUCTION for safeguarding cultural heritage as well as history, natural diversity and the uniqueness of system organised by the British. A number of fostering a sense of ownership for one’s heritage. Malaysian society. However, after a refurbish- reports aimed at improving British education Malaysia has been blessed with cultural ment that was completed in 2008, its exhibi- system, such as the Fenn-Wu Report (1951), the diversity because of its multi-ethnic composi- Realising the importance of public tions have employed interesting and interactive Education Ordinance (1952), the Razak Report (1956) tion and its diverse range of religions practised. education especially for youth in safeguarding ways to encourage its visitors to explore the and Rahman Talib Report (1960). Its diversity is refected in the existence of cultural heritage for the future, the department history of Malaysia, from the prehistoric era various materials culture on its land. Archeo- has taken measures such as continuous and con- to the present achievements of Malaysia. The After independence, the country’s edu- logical fnds show the way of life of a number sistent research on the collections, developing National Museum, which was declared a Na- cation system began to gradually reform. In the of ethnic groups. To create awareness and build public programmes to accommodate each level tional Heritage Site in 2015 under the National First Malaysia Plan (1966-1970) to the Seventh a harmonious society with a high standard, the of society, publishing research in a variety of Heritage Act 2008 (Act 645) strengthened its Malaysia Plan (1996-2000), education was a pri- Department of Museums Malaysia has taken forms such as in books, journals, audiovisual and role as a one-stop-edutainment centre for the ority. The government looked for new ways to serious measures to preserve, conserve and digital media etc. The department collaborates history, ethnography and art of Malaysia. The ensure that educational institutions produced disseminate knowledge about the country’s his- with appropriate government/non-governmen- new presentation style, comprehensive facilities, individuals who were able to contribute produc- torical, cultural and natural heritage through tal bodies to do this. authentic sources of knowledge in line with tively to national development. Preschool Edu- its museums. the changing political developments make cation, Curriculum for Primary Schools (series), The latest collaboration is a programme the museum a centre for the dissemination of Integrated Secondary School Curriculum Museums have existed in Malaysia since with the Ministry of Education Malaysia. It accurate information and a relevant repository (ICSS), higher education, teacher education, 1883 with the establishment of Muzium Perak. addresses students from the age of 9 to 17 years for the historical and cultural heritage of the technical and vocational education and private Before World War II, the museum’s work and aspiring teachers by using material culture country. education were reviewed. The development of focused on research, documentation and the (objects, artefacts and so on) to help them get the education system continued to grow provid- collecting of material culture with respect to a clearer and better picture of the legacy of THE HISTORY OF EDUCATION ing world-class and high-quality education that material relevant to history, material culture their ancestors. This also enhances their un- IN MALAYSIA developed an individual’s potential and fulflled and natural history. derstanding of the history syllabus outlined by their aspirations. the Ministry of Education. This programme The history of education in Malaysia After the separation from the Antiqui- will be carried out across the nation involving began before to the Colonial period (1400-1874) NATIONAL BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY ties Division (which was established as a new museums and schools from all around Malaysia during which the education system was based on (NBOS): BETWEEN DEPARTMENT department), the Department of Museums in 2016. an informal and formal basis which emphasised OF MUSEUMS MALAYSIA AND Malaysia focused on keeping and protecting ma- religious subjects. Such education was based on MINISTRY OF EDUCATION terial culture within museums. Exhibitions and THE HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL a process of learning that produced individuals museum education programmes are among the MUSEUM OF MALAYSIA who were skilled and competent in technical The Department of Museums Malaysia tools used in disseminating knowledge to the and practical aspects of work. During the and the Ministry of Education were never public while maintaining ongoing research on In 1953, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra British colonial era, signifcant changes began to part of the same Ministry. This separation the collections. The Education Unit was estab- Al-Haj (1903-1990), the frst Prime Minister of occur in the education system. This lent to an between the two departments made eforts of lished in the Department of Museums Malaysia Malaysia sugested establishing a functioning opportunity for vernacular curriculum fnding nation-building and cultivating a sense of be- in 2013 with the aim of educating the public, spe- National Museum as a repository for national its niche in Malaysian society. This was prior to longing to the country more difcult and drawn cifcally the youger generation. The department heritage. Subsequently, the construction of the the arrival of Chinese and Indians immigrants, out. The two departments complimented each is tasked with enhancing the younger genera- National Museum, which was built on the site which were later brought over by the British. other’s work. The Department of Education tion’s understanding of the museum as a place of the former Selangor Museum (1906-1945) was provides a younger generation with a theoretical 52 53 Balancing Political History, Ethnography, and Art: The Role of a National Museum in Malaysia Mohd Azmi Bin Mohd Yusof, Miti Fateema Sherzeella Mohd Yusof, Noraini Binti Basri foundation, while the Department of Museums 4. To establish museums as a support system Malaysia, through the National Museum, show- for formal education through “Teaching cases evidences that supports the theory taught and Learning”; by teachers in schools. 5. To balance academic requirements and hands-on experience in engaging students Thus, in realising the value that both and teachers; and departments can provide, a series of discussions 6. To instill and nurture good moral values were carried out, after it was announced that it and discipline, and build awareness of the was compulsory for students to pass history as a uniqueness of Malaysia’s cultural diversity. subject during their main examination in their formal education years. The planned programme is to be carried out all over Malaysia with active participants The main objectives of the collaboration from Malaysia’s museums. The frst step towards between the two departments are: realizing the programme before its launch at a national level was to convene a committee 1. To instill love for the country; consisting of experts from the Department of 2. To nurture a spirit of togetherness among a Museums and the Ministry of Education to run multi-racial society; a pilot test. 3. To instill love and interest in heritage among students and teachers through The National Museum had the honour “Teaching and Learning” museum education; of being the frst institution to execute this Image courtesy of the Department of Museums Malaysia project. The National Museum was seen as the through using material culture evidence in the most suitable place since it is considered a one- museum was monitored closely by the Depart- stop centre for visitors to get a glimpse of the ment of Museums Malaysia and the Ministry of political history and socio-cultural development Education Malaysia. For this pilot test, history of Malaysia. Thus, the blueprint of this museum as a subject has been chosen to be the subject is closely related to the curriculum of history matter. textbooks for students from 9-17 years old. There were four (4) main segments during PILOT TEST the execution namely, Teaching and Learning, In-Gallery Activity, Strengthening Activity and The pilot test took place through the Refection. All these segments served a specifc month of May 2015. It involved 10 schools; 5 of purpose throughout the process. which were primary schools and 5 were sec- ondary schools from the Klang Valley area. A TEACHING AND LEARNING teacher training