NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY

1. NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY

2. INTRODUCTION The main objectives of educational policy are: To fulfil development requirements; To create social integration and national unity. The task of nation-building would be difficult without social and political stability.

3. COLONIAL EDUCATION POLICY • kept various communities as separate and distinct entities • education system developed into FOUR segregated streams: • English • Malay • Chinese • Tamil • each school had its own aims • each school had its own syllabus content

4. TOWARDS THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM THE CHEESEMAN PLAN • British began to take steps to streamline the education system to promote communal unity. • The Cheeseman Plan proposed: • Free places given to children attending vernacular primary schools. • English language used in all primary schools. • Two types of secondary schools be established. • Vocational education be implemented fully. • Was not carried out as rejected by Federal Legislative Council. • Reason: no element of unity

5. THE BARNES REPORT • In 1950, the British formed a committee under L.J. Barnes to look into the education system. • The Barnes Report suggested: • Primary schools be made foundation of unity for people • Only national schools should exist in the country • Malay language – main language of instruction • English language – second medium of instruction • School-going age: 6-12 years old • Pupils in primary schools enter English secondary schools • Education be provided free • Local government must bear part of school expenses

6. THE FENN-WU REPORT • Non-Malays opposed to Barnes Report – particularly Chinese • Appointed two experts in Chinese education to study the problems • Dr W.P. Fenn • Dr Wu Teh Yau • Suggestions: • Chinese language be made third language in school system • National type schools be continued • Education in Chinese schools should be Malayan-oriented

7. THE 1952 EDUCATION ORDINANCE • Outcome of the integration of two earlier reports. • Main details of the Ordinance are: • Two types of school were recommended • Malay-medium schools • English-medium schools • Facilities prepared for the study of Chinese and Tamil • Chinese and Tamil schools be excluded from the national education system • English be taught from Standard 1 in Malay-medium schools • Malay to be taught from Standard 3 in English-medium schools • not implemented due to financial problems caused by economic recession

8. THE RAZAK STATEMENT 1956 • Committee was formed to prepare a national education system. • Headed by Dato’ Abdul Razak Hussein. • Proposal of the Razak Statement: • Every child be given opportunity for education • should be only one education system – the National Education System • Should be two types of school: • public schools using Malay as medium • public schools using English, Chinese or Tamil • Malay and English to be compulsory in all schools • Chinese and Tamil be taught if more than 15 students or if requested by parents • Aid to be given to all schools • National secondary schools to be established • national secondary schools • national type secondary schools

9. THE RAHMAN TALIB STATEMENT 1960 and EDUCATION ACT 1961 • Was released in 1960 and its proposals were included in Education Act of 1961. • Details of the act are: • Children in primary schools be given the opportunity to further studies in secondary schools • Education should be free • School-going age: 6 – 15 years old • Fail to enter academic schools – should admit to vocational schools • Curriculum and examination should be coordinated in both national and national-type schools • Malay as national language taught in all primary schools, replacing English as medium of instruction • Chinese and Tamil should be taught; should there be at least 15 pupils or parents request it • Islamic knowledge should be taught; should there be at least 15 Muslim students

10. EDUCATION AFTER 1961 1961 – 1970 • Aimed at improving the level of education in the rural regions through: • widening opportunities for pupils to further their education in secondary schools • improving pupils participation in secondary level education After 1970 • Emphasized given to the quality of education as well as solidarity through: • renewing of curriculum • diversifying subjects offered in line with development of science and technology

11. EDUCATION REFORMS CABINET COMMITTEE • Chaired by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and was formed in 1974. • To study the implementation of the National Education policy. • Released its findings, the Mahathir Report in 1979. • The report suggested: • Education should meet the country’s manpower needs, especially in science and technology • Education should foster development of noble values

12. The objectives: • To improve the conditions and quality of the educational system; • To fix a system of education that is “flexible” to current development. • Consequent to this report, the New Primary School Curriculum (KBSR) was launched in 1983 and the New Secondary School Curriculum (KBSM) in 1989.

13. THE SMART SCHOOL • The objectives: • To produce students to be thinking citizens with religious beliefs. • To create an atmosphere of teaching and learning that is in line with the latest development in education. • The main feature is the use of information technology in the process of teaching and learning. • It means that lesson in class will shift from being techer-centred to pupil-centred. • The school will cultivate the skills to solve problems in a creative manner to meet with the new situations.