Report on Education Reform and Process of Consultation

Last December, the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin established the National Education System Evaluation Panel comprising seven experts with the mandate to undertake the first overall evaluation of the national education system since the Razak Report 1956. The aim of the evaluation is to improve the quality of education in the country to be on par with that of developed countries.

Additionally, this year the DPM who is also the Education Minster announced that nationwide National Education Dialogues would be held to receive feedback from the general public. The DPM affirmed that his Ministry “will listen to the views, recommendations and ideas from the various strata of the society, from the various races and from the stakeholders.”

It was in this context that the Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia (PROHAM), ASLI Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) together with the Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) took the initiative to host a Roundtable Discussion on Education Reform and Process of Consultation on the 16th April 2012.

A small focus group of educationists, academicians, private sector and civil society leaders attended the roundtable and provided their views and recommendations in contribution to the national review and consultation currently undertaken by the federal government.

Three panellists were invited to speak: Tan Sri Chan Choong Tak, former senate speaker & member of the cluster schools board; Tan Sri Marimuthu, former professor of education, University Malaya; and Y. B. Dato‟ Saifuddin Abdullah, Deputy Higher Education Minister of Malaysia. The roundtable was moderated by Tan Sri Dato‟ Asiah Abu Samah, former DG of Education & PROHAM member. Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, Chairman of PROHAM gave a word of welcome, while the closing summary of the roundtable findings was presented by Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria from the Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), UKM. A few local media representatives were also present to cover the roundtable.

Earlier this year, on the 27th of February 2012, CPPS-ASLI hosted a Roundtable Discussion on Vernacular Schools in Malaysia, recognizing that there was a need to review the Education Act and National Education policy to address issues such as the falling quality of education and increasing mono-ethnicity in national schools. The roundtable welcomed the move but also expressed concerns on the composition of the review panel and its objectives.

A number of major themes emerged from the discussion pertaining to Education Reform in Malaysia in particular, the quality of education and education institutions. Several key concerns were identified, including: the worsening standards of English language proficiency among students and graduates, the rote-learning and exam oriented education system which hinders students‟ creativity and critical thinking, poor school facilities and funding, overwhelming role of teachers in schools, and the need for meritocracy and autonomy in the selection of school heads and school management.

This report captures the thoughts shared and expressed by the majority of participants. It was presented to the Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on 23rd April 2012 when he officiated the 16th Malaysian Education Summit organised by ASLI.

To read the full report, please download the following PDF.