A DAP state assemblyman has called for the Education Ministry to ensure that the country’s school curriculum is keeping with the rapidly-evolving market and industry needs.
Jementah state assemblywoman Ng Kor Sim said as globalisation intensifies and technological breakthroughs continue to disrupt traditional economies, it is imperative that students be well-equipped enough to keep up in the global marketplace.
“We cannot afford to stick with archaic curriculum or impart students with skillsets that have little to no value in the working world,” she said in a statement on Thursday (May 2).
“This responsibility does not fall entirely on the shoulders of the MOE but on all stakeholders.”
Ng was responding to the recent World Bank report “Bending Bamboo Shoots: Strengthening Foundation Skills” which painted a concerning picture of Malaysia’s education system.
According to the report, despite significant spending (3.2% of GDP), student learning outcomes in the country lag behind expectations.
Supposedly, only 58% of students in Malaysia proficient in reading by the end of Standard 5, which is significantly worse than regional peers.
The report further highlighted a troubling inefficiency – Malaysian students spend an average of 12.5 years in school but learn the equivalent of only 8.9 years.
“In this respect, all stakeholders, including the MOE, should thoroughly study the views and criticisms contained in the report, with a view of improving on our strengths and overcoming our shortcomings,” Ng remarked.
On her part, Ng said her office had, since 2023, sponsored 21 students in the Jementah constituency to learn coding, which is a valuable skill amid the Industrial Revolution 4.0 wave.
In 2022, her office had also sponsored 20 laptops to needy students in Jementah and this went up to 30 units last year.
Ng further reckoned that other stakeholders should also study the World Bank report and look into ways on how they can help boost the country’s education standards.
“For example, the Johor government should consider increasing the budget to help needy students catch up on their studies and pick up market-driven skillsets,” she remarked.
“It can also look into building more Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres or increasing the budget for existing ones, considering the immense importance of technical and vocational training in the new global economic order.”
Ng went on to note that there is now growing acceptance towards technical and vocational education among parents and students from the previous obsession with the academic stream.
“Education is not just about passing exams or chasing paper qualifications. It is about equipping our children with technical know-how for them to navigate the sea of uncertainty when they enter adulthood.
“This is why we need to take heed of the findings in the World Bank report so that we can not just remedy our weaknesses but build an ecosystem for our education to thrive in line with the aspirations of the Madani government.” – May 2, 2024
Main pic credit: GlobalGiving
