New education plan is about quality over quantity

`New education plan is about quality over quantity'

Date: 08-10-2013Author: Mustapha KamilBALI: Malaysia wants its investment in education to focus more on qualityreturns rather than mere output, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razaksaid here yesterday. Answering a question at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Forumhere yesterday, Najib said the Malaysia Education Blueprint emphasised thelearning of Science, Mathematics and English. Najib was a panel member at the dialogue on "Investing in infrastructureand human capital" with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. "We invest heavily on education and have decided to focus on thelearning of Science and Mathematics. We also realised that to competeinternationally, our people must master the English language as when weswitched to a fully Bahasa Malaysia education system in the 1970s, we lostsome of our international competitiveness." The blueprint also seeks to ensure all schools have the same facilitiesand for Malaysia to be in the top league of the Trends in InternationalMathematics and Science Study. ( END )

Source : New Straits Times

Aiming to be among top education systems

Date: 15-12-2013Author: Tharanya ArumugamKUALA LUMPUR: THE Education Ministry is striving to improve Malaysia'sranking in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) andexpects it to be higher in 2015, said newly appointed Director-General ofEducation Datuk Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof. He said a higher ranking was achievable with the implementation of theMalaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 launched on Sept 6. "I will go down to the ground to ensure all plans under the Blueprintare effectively carried out by those responsible to do so," he said. He noted that his priority was to execute the plans under the Blueprintto be among the top one-third of the best education systems worldwide by2025. "PISA rankings help us identify our position in the global educationcontext. It measures the ability of our students, aged 14 years and above,in Science, Mathematics and reading at a global level," he said. Last year, 5,700 students aged 14 years and above sat for theassessment. Malaysia ranked 52 out of 65 countries, scoring 421 inMathematics, 398 in Reading and 420 in Science. Malaysian students scored below average in the results released onTuesday, with only a slight improvement in Mathematics. The global average score was 494 in Mathematics, 496 in Reading and 501in Science, and Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Koreawere the top five countries. Khair said the rankings indicated that Malaysian students needed toimprove their skills in analysing and in higher order thinking skills. "Moving forward, there is a need to emphasise Higher Order ThinkingSkills (HOTS). We have been focusing on content based teaching and learning, and not so

much on application and thinking skills. "Secondly, it could be also be due to the way lessons were being carriedout, where focus is placed on finishing the syllabus," he added. "Students here were used to content-based learning, in which theymemorised the content of the syllabus." PISA focuses questions that test for higher-order thinking skills suchas application and reasoning. Malaysia's national assessments, on the other hand, have a heavier slanttowards questions that test for content knowledge. He said higher order thinking skills was among the specific skills andattributes that students would need to thrive in tomorrow's economy andglobalised world. "We want to make sure that when students leave our education system,they can quickly adapt." He said, however, that there were schools participating in theassessment with scores equal to that in Shanghai. "Hence, we are going to conduct a second round of analysis, to identifyhow these schools gained high scores." He added that the good scores could be due to the school environment andsurroundings, where students were encouraged to communicate, collaborate,and express themselves in class. Besides that, he said, the school teachers and headmaster would haveplayed a significant role in championing creative and innovative learninginside and outside classrooms. Parents too would have extended their support to their children, hesaid. "The schools may have great leadership, a creative thinking headmasterand teachers who do not solely rely on the curriculum and textbooks, butgo a step ahead in utilising gadgets and additional learning materials totutor students. "The ministry will look at these schools as role models, and wouldstrive to implement similar teaching and learning methods in schoolsnationwide." The ministry, he said, was also working on improving thinkingskills-related initiatives and teachers' skills to improve the educationsystem. "According to studies, the most vital criteria to produce qualitystudents is to have quality teachers, strong leadership, and curriculum. "We have intensified teacher's training, where we provide training andteaching modules that stress on application, understanding and thinking. "We will be closely monitoring and evaluating the progress of theinitiatives in the Blueprint. "Secondly, we want to ensure all our programme managers and about 300officials from district to state level exert strong control over theinitiatives implemented in all schools under the close monitoring of all138 District Education offices nationwide." In 2009, Malaysia participated in PISA for the first time and scored 404in Mathematics, 414 in Reading and 422 in Science. PISA is administered by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation andDevelopment (OECD) every three years in both OECD and non-OECD countriesand offers students questions in the main language of instruction in theirrespective countries. ( END )


Thumbs up for our education plan

Date: 13-09-2013Author: Hamidah AtanLONDON: THE Malaysia Development Education Plan 2013-2025 has earnedpraises from United Kingdom's captains of industry who described it as anenabler in producing quality and wholesome professionals. Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who spent close to twohours meeting top executives of British companies and universities twodays ago here, said he was happy that they were impressed with theeducation plan. "A representative from Reading University and others congratulatedMalaysia for launching the education master plan which they believed couldstrengthen educational collaborations between Malaysia and the UK. "They also believed that by starting pupils from primary schools, thisplan can produce quality and wholesome students, not just for Malaysia butthe UK as well." The government will take bold measures to facilitate a major,transformative shift in the country's education system and policy,Muhyiddin, who is also deputy prime minister, told the Malaysian mediayesterday. "I think criticisms (against the education plan) are common and we aretaking them as a challenge." The education plan, he said, was an important document for the country'seducation system to be on a par with developed countries. "I discussed with the prime minister about two years ago on the need toreview the education policy and he agreed. We received the feedback andinput from thousands of people." Under the education plan, which Muhyiddin launched recently, universalaccess and full enrolment of all children from preschool to uppersecondary school by 2020 was one of the targets. In terms of quality, the Malaysian education system hopes to be in thetop third of countries in international assessments, such as the Programmefor International Student Assessment and the Trends in InternationalMathematics and Science Study in 15 years. The ministry also aspires to halve the current urban-rural,socio-economic and gender achievement gap by 2020 in terms of equity aswell as to further maximise student outcomes within the budget levelswhile the government will maintain the current level of investment in theeducation system through efficiency. The ministry is also hoping to create an education system that giveschildren shared values and experiences by embracing diversity. ( END )


Blueprint will transform education, says Muhyiddin

Date: 07-09-2013Author: Rahmat Khairulrijal; Tharanya Arumugam; Tasnim Lokman; Balqis LimKUALA LUMPUR: THE Malaysia Education Blueprint unveiled yesterday will bethe catalyst to a comprehensive transformation of the country's educationsystem to produce a generation of all-rounded pupils and educators. The blueprint, unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri MuhyiddinYassin yesterday, will also be the backbone of the nation's overall

national transformation programme. It will also bridge gaps in the academic achievements of urban and ruralpupils, as well as iron out disparities caused by socio-economic andgender factors. The entire education system will see significant transformation by theend of its 13-year course. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in his preface in the blueprint,said Malaysia required a transformation of its entire education system tomeet its high aspirations in an increasingly competitive globalenvironment. He said this would require a new perspective so that students coulddevelop skills needed to face the needs of the 21st century. To this end,he said, the government had crafted the blueprint, providing acomprehensive plan for a rapid and sustainable transformation of thecountry's education system through to 2025. "By building on the range of initiatives introduced as National KeyResult Areas, it sets out the fundamental changes required. "From how we approach student learning, the way we recruit, train andreward our teachers and principals right through to how the EducationMinistry itself operates, it lays a process for that change." At the launch yesterday, Muhyiddin urged all quarters to give their fullsupport to the blueprint. In allaying concerns voiced by disgruntled factions over theimplementation of the blueprint, Muhyiddin said the blueprint wasformulated with the interest of the future generation in mind. "Overall, many have expressed their support for the blueprint," he said,adding even the Chinese education group, Dong Zong, which previouslyvoiced concerns over Bahasa Malaysia curriculum in vernacular schools,supported the plan. Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said the government had takenthe middle ground to accommodate the needs of those who wanted to retainthe curriculum of vernacular schools. However, to enhance pupils' proficiency in the national language,Muhyiddin said the contact hours for Bahasa Malaysia classes in vernacularschools would be increased from 180 minutes to 240 minutes a week. Muhyiddin said the government never intended to abolish vernacularschools or the learning of mother tongue languages, as these were part andparcel of the country's culture. "If there are those who say we are abolishing mother tongues, it isuntrue." Part of the plan to produce better pupils include the infusion of HigherOrder Thinking Skills-type questions into the Ujian Pencapaian SekolahRendah and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia exams which will require pupils to useanalytical and evaluational skills. Enrolment for disabled, special needs and Orang Asli pupils is aimed at100 per cent by 2025. International standardised tests will also beincluded to gauge pupils' achievement in language learning, Mathematicsand the Sciences. The teaching profession will also be strengthened, with one of thehighlights being to only allow the top 30 per cent of graduates to becomeeducators. The government has also lined up a series of commitments to provideaccess and better infrastructure. For example, all schools will have basicinfrastructure requirements, starting with Sabah and Sarawak, by 2015. At a function at Universiti Malaya later yesterday, Muhyiddin said thegovernment had spent RM200 billion, or roughly 16 per cent of the federalBudget, on primary to tertiary education. He said this was in line with the goal under the nation's EconomicTransformation Programme (ETP) to have more than 3.3 million skilledworkers by 2020. "Sectors such as tourism, medical, agriculture and oil and gas are

growing in our country and we need more trained workers to meet thedemands of this expansion. "We want to produce more experts and with that, the government isproviding many educational opportunities for the people." Implementation A SPECIAL entity comprising talented officers from within and outsidethe Education Ministry will monitor the progress of the Malaysia EducationDevelopment Plan 2013-2025. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassinsaid the Education Implementation and Performance Unit (Padu) will applycorporate management methods in overseeing the plan. He also said anannual report and status of achievements would be made available to thepublic. "The setting up of special entity like this has never been done bythe Education Ministry in any of its previous plannings," he said.Muhyiddin said the government would continue to engage all thestakeholders and hold dialogues at the end of each of the three wavesduring the plan's implementation. ( END )


`Support education blueprint'

Date: 05-09-2013Author: Ili Liyana Mokhtar; Koi Kye LeeKUALA LUMPUR: THE support of all stakeholders is crucial to the successfulimplementation of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, which willbe launched tomorrow. This is to ensure the nation's education system is on a par with thosein developed countries such as Finland, Singapore and China. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said among the areasemphasised in the blueprint were teachers, school leaders, school quality,curriculum and assessment, command of multiple languages, post-secondaryeducation opportunities, parents and communities, resource efficiency andeffectiveness, as well as the education delivery system. "The blueprint was drawn up with precision and care, with contributionsfrom international and local educational experts. "It is a comprehensive education plan that will bring big improvementsto the country's education system," he said in TV3's Soal Jawab programmewith Media Prima executive director (news and editorial operations) DatukAhmad A. Talib yesterday. Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said among the suggestionstaken into account during the formulation of the blueprint wasstrengthening the teaching profession. "We took into account the administrative burden of teachers, where ithas been said that teachers not only teach, but also handle administrativematters. "Steps, such as providing a total of 10,000 administrative assistants inphases to schools, are clearly stated in the blueprint to ensure thatteachers can focus on teaching." He also said 70,000 English teachers have sat the Cambridge PlacementTest, while another 5,000 have completed their training to improvelanguage proficiency. "This is to ensure we provide the best quality teachers for ourstudents." Muhyiddin added that the blueprint promoted active participation by

parents and the community to enhance schools' and students' performances. "Most successful schools that I have visited overseas have a strongnetwork of parents and teachers, with the community dedicated to providingquality education for students. "This is why we plan to strengthen the role of Parent-TeacherAssociations in schools and perhaps, provide funds for them in the nextbudget so that there will be more active involvement." He urged parents to change their mindset in regard to their children'seducation and not think that educating their children was the soleresponsibility of schools. "Schools should be seen as a place where all parties can come to anunderstanding for the benefit of the students. "This can be achieved when schools make parents and the community feelthat their presence is welcomed." Muhyiddin said the ministry had recently launched tool kits to helpparents and schools mould successful and well-adjusted children. The blueprint is based on points raised during the National EducationDialogue, which was held between April and July last year. Based on comprehensive studies and pilot projects conducted in multiplephases, the blueprint is a combination of what is most effective toachieve the desired transformation in the education system. Muhyiddin will launch the blueprint at the Kuala Lumpur ConventionCentre. The final draft was based on the ministry's detailed study on revisingaspects of the current system to make improvements, as well as feedbackfrom more than 11,000 parents, teachers and students, among others. With meaningful learning, students are expected to develop knowledge andthinking skills, language and cognition with bilingualism, ethics andspirituality, leadership skills and a robust national identity. On Sept 11 last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had launchedthe early report of the Malaysia Education Blueprint, which focuses on sixattributes - knowledge, thinking skills, leadership, bilingualproficiency, ethics and national identity - which can be achieved throughdifferent approaches, depending on each student's standards andcapabilities. Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching said the launch ofthe blueprint would go ahead as planned despite objections from severalChinese education groups. At a function in Putrajaya yesterday, she said the ministry hadorganised several meetings with stakeholders and ironed out misconceptionson the blueprint. Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association), a vocal criticof the blueprint, responded that it would adopt a "wait and see" approachon the blueprint's contents before proceeding. Additional reporting byLavanya Lingan ( END )


Set to bring about big leap in education

Date: 02-09-2013Author: Kalbana PerimbanayagamPUTRAJAYA: THE Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 will encapsulatequality and holistic empowerment of teachers, students and the education

system. Education director-general Tan Sri Abdul Ghafar Mahmud said the finalreport of the blueprint would be launched on Sept 6 by Deputy PrimeMinister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister. Ghafar said the blueprint, which was drawn up with precision and care,was based on each phase of study conducted by the ministry. "It is set to bring about a big improvement to the country's educationsystem. "Based on the points raised during the National Education Dialogue,which was held between April and July last year, the ministryconceptualised and drew up the education development plan for the MalaysiaEducation Blueprint." Based on comprehensive studies and pilot projects conducted in multiplephases, he said the blueprint is a wholesome combination of what is mosteffective to achieve the desired transformation in the education system. Muhyiddin will launch the blueprint at the Kuala Lumpur ConventionCentre. On Sept 11 last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had launchedthe early report of the Malaysia Education Blueprint, which focuses on sixattributes - knowledge, thinking skills, leadership, bilingualproficiency, ethics and national identity, all which can be achievedthrough various approaches depending on the pupil's standards andcapabilities. "Experts from various fields, as well as Unesco have complimented theblueprint. So far, it has been well received and trial runs conducted havebeen successful," he said. Ghafar said apart from the input obtained from articles, blogs andletters from the mainstream and social media, the ministry had alsoconsidered 153 suggestions from non-governmental organisations,associations, institutions, educationist and the public, includingstudents. The recommendations were submitted during the three-month long NationalEducation Dialogue sessions, an initiative by the government to gathersuggestions from stakeholders on a large scale on ways to enhance theeducation system. The final draft was based on the ministry's detailed study on revisingaspects of the current system to make improvements as well as feedbackobtained from around the country from over 11,000 parents, teachers, andstudents, among others. With meaningful learning, pupils are expected to develop knowledge andthinking skills, language and cognition with bilingualism, ethics andspirituality, leadership skills, and a robust national identity. Ghafar said the final report would be followed by the formulation anddevelopment of the new education strategic plan. "The ministry will also evaluate and conduct more studies on theimplementation of the 11 initiatives at each stage, to determine itseffectiveness, acceptance and to determine the challenges which might cropup with time." Among the areas emphasised in the blueprint are teachers, schoolleaders, school quality, curriculum and assessment, command of multiplelanguages, post secondary education opportunities, parents andcommunities, resource efficiency and effectiveness as well as educationdelivery system. ( END )


No change to education blueprint

Date: 30-08-2013PUTRAJAYA: The government will not bow to pressure from critics of theMalaysia Education Blueprint, said Education Minister Tan Sri MuhyiddinYassin. Muhyiddin, who is also deputy prime minister, said the government wascommitted towards implementing the Education Blueprint to enhance nationalunity. Malay Consultative Council secretary-general Dr Hasan Mad said this wassaid by Muhyiddin during a meeting he chaired yesterday. Hasan said Muhyiddin had stated that there was no reason for anyquarters, including Dong Zong (the United Chinese School Committee'sAssociation of Malaysia) to reject the new education policy because itcovered the interests of all races and would further spur national unity. "The deputy prime minister has given his commitment that he will not bowto any pressure as there is no reason for him to do so." He said representatives from 10 non-governmental organisations attendedthe meeting and handed over some resolutions which had been agreed uponduring the National Education Congress held in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. "This is our stand -- that the Malaysia Education Blueprint beimplemented. We do not want the government to bow to Dong Zong whorepresents only a small group with its own personal interest. "We know they will stop at nothing to make sure the policy is notcarried out as they are getting support from politicians who arecapitalising on the matter for their own gain." Last Tuesday, the congress unanimously agreed to support the educationblueprint, urging the government to implement it and use the Malaylanguage as the main medium in schools to instil national unity. The resolutions also called on the government to reject the setting upof Chinese secondary schools and to identify Chinese private colleges thatfailed to adopt the national education curriculum. ( END )


All set for a transformation in education

Date: 24-08-2013Author: Hashini Kavishtri Kannan; Tasnim LokmanPUTRAJAYA: THE education system under the Malaysian Education Blueprint(2013-2025) to be launched next month will strive to deliver qualityeducation and produce pupils of international standards. National Education Dialogue Panel chairman Tan Sri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid WanMohd Nordin said one of the outcomes in the blueprint was for schools tobe empowered to carry out teaching methods and systems which was deemedbest for their pupils. "The Education Ministry has realised and accepted that education can'tbe centralised to achieve education excellence among pupils whose capacityand capabilities are different. "Pupils have unique characteristics, and schools must be empowered topromote teaching systems and methods to cater for their pupils," he added. He said the blueprint, which focuses on six attributes - knowledge,thinking skills, leadership, bilingual proficiency, ethics and national

identity - could be achieved through various approaches depending on thepupil's standards and capabilities. Headed by Wan Zahid, the National Dialogue on Education 2012 was held inseveral locations throughout the country since April to help conceptualiseand draw up the development plan for the Malaysian Education Blueprint. The ministry took into account proposals from 153 letters andmemorandums from various non-governmental organisations, associations,institutions, educationists and the public. The recommendations were submitted during the three-month long NationalDialogue on Education sessions, an initiative by the government to gathersuggestions from stakeholders on a large scale on ways to enhance theeducation system. "This was the first time in the world that a government had invitedviews from the public on a large scale to come up with a development planfor national education. "It was aimed at consolidating and enhancing the quality of all schools,including national and vernacular schools, mission schools andgovernment-aided religious schools," the former director-general ofEducation said. The blueprint is scheduled to be launched by the Deputy Prime Minister,Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the education minister, next month. The education transformation will be carried in three waves to ensurethe education system was on a par with that of developed nations, over thecourse of the next 13 years. The first wave, which would be the implementation of the blueprint, willfocus on teachers and core student skills. The second wave will be building upon progress after wave three, between2020 and 2025, would give schools complete autonomy to handle their ownadministration. Wan Zahid added that to bear a successful outcome, the ministry needs tomaintain simplicity in implementing the new policies. "Simplicity is the mother of success. "Therefore, implementation should be made comprehensible not only byeducationists but also by pupils and their parents." He said the blueprint must have ownership, as it should be owned bythose who wish to see the nation's education system be world class. When asked what he would want to see in the education system in Malaysiain the next 10 years, he said; "To have pupils who are intellectually andacademically compatible". ( END )


Fighting for education for all

Date: 28-08-2013Author: Rueben DudleyON Aug 20, the Irish government honoured Malala Yousafzai with the"Tipperary International Peace Award" in a ceremony in Tipperary, aprovince of Ireland. Malala is the schoolgirl from Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province,who was shot in the neck and head by a Taliban gunman aboard a bus whilereturning from school on Oct 9 last year. Her only "crime" was campaigning for the right to education for all,especially for girls. Miraculously, and with the timely help of Pakistan, the United ArabEmirates and the United Kingdom, Malala survived the Taliban's attempts tosilence her. The award, a crystal dove of peace, was the latest in a growing list of

international honours for the teenager, as courageous as she is humble. The award was in recognition of Malala's courage, determination andperseverance to promote the fundamental right to education for everychild; her efforts to give women and girls in Pakistan access to educationand the impact she had on so many people worldwide. The ceremony started with the song The Flower of Pakistan by a group ofchildren from the Roman Catholic Holy Rosary College, which received astanding ovation from the audience. Distinguished previous recipients of the prestigious award includedNelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Bill Clinton and Benazir Bhutto. On July 12 this year, on Malala's 16th birthday, the United Nationsdesignated that day as Malala Day, which was marked with the first everyouth takeover of the UN General Assembly in New York. Malala delivered an address in perfect English that impressed the morethan 500 youth representatives from nearly 80 countries, UN delegates andmillions of TV viewers worldwide. She called on the international community to focus on promotinguniversal and free access to quality education for all children and youth. Malala urged "greater global emphasis on the wellbeing of the mostvulnerable sections of society, including women and children" andsupporting opportunities for everyone, without discrimination orhindrance, to become worthy citizens in society. Rueben Dudley, Petaling Jaya, Selangor ( END )


`Go all out to improve education'

Date: 22-08-2013Author: Azura Abas; Koi Kye LeePUTRAJAYA: PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has urged EducationMinistry staff to continue doing whatever is necessary to boost thequality of the nation's education system. "I will give you my full support. Do your work to ensure the success ofthe National Education Blueprint," he said at the ministry's Hari Rayaopen house yesterday. Present were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is alsothe education minister, and his wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman;Education Minister 11 Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and their deputy ministersDatuk Mary Yap Kain Ching and P. Kamalanathan. More than 5,000 people turned up at the open house and they were treatedto a sumptuous spread including satay, rendang and lemang. It was reported that the government would launch the National EducationDevelopment Masterplan 2013-2025 on Sept 6. The master plan is aimed at improving the quality of national schools tomake them the first choice of every Malaysian. It also strives to give every child the opportunity to get qualityeducation and to boost unity. Experts have said that if Malaysia focused on the implementation of themaster plan, the country's education system would improve and be in thetop 30 per cent in the world. Earlier when speaking to reporters at the Prime Minister's Department'sopen house, Najib said Putrajaya's new "Endless Possibilities" campaignwas part of the nation's branding plan. He said that it would not replace the 1Malaysia slogan introduced fouryears ago. "Malaysia is going to promote this." The Endless Possibilities badge was pinned on the prime minister's rightlapel yesterday and the 1Malaysia logo was on his left lapel.

It was reported that the Endless Possibilities campaign had startedearlier this year but the launch is scheduled to be on Sept 17. Ministers were said to have been briefed on the matter. The Endless Possibilities button badge is a endless spiral ofintertwined Ms and Ys in red, yellow and white on a blue background. ( END )


MALAYSIA ON RIGHT TRACK TO TRANSFROM EDUCATION SYSTEM - WAHID OMAR

Date: 10-12-2013

Author: / NSF NSF GR

WAHID-EDUCATION PUTRAJAYA, Dec 10 (Bernama)-- The Government is on the right track withits current initiatives, particularly via the Malaysian Education Blueprint, totransform the education system into high gear. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar saidthe blueprint addressed many issues, including the deterioration of the qualityof education as virtued by the Programme for International Student Assessment(Pisa) which was identified in the blueprint. We already participated in Pisa from 2009, and the blueprint looked at theresults up to 2011, and we have seen the deterioration (quality of education),"he told the media after launching the Malaysia Economic Monitor December 2013edition: High Performing Education here today. Abdul Wahid said, from the government perspective, it was imperative tocontinue focusing on the execution of various initiatives which were alreadyidentified in the blueprint. According to the 2012 Pisa, of the 65 countries, Malaysia ranked No. 52 forMathematic, Science (53) and Reading (59). The World Bank has suggested three priorities, namely, moving more decisionsto schools, information to parents on school and student performance, andimproving the quality of teaching.

-- BERNAMA NSF NSF GR

GET RID OF NEGATIVE PERCEPTION ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION - ABDUL TAIB

Date: 30-11-2013

TAIB-TECHNICAL SAMARAHAN, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- The expansion of the industrial sector in thestate should eliminate any misconception on the future of students who continuetheir studies in the technical field. Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said society must rid itself of themisconception that job opportunities were limited for a student took technicalstudies as the state economic landscape had changed. "There are still students who are hesitant about opting for the technicalfield as a first choice with the assumption that opportunity is limited. This isnot true. In the past it was true as the industrial sector in the state was onlyat 10 percent, now it has gone up to 26 percent. "Furthermore, more job opportunities in the technical sector will alsoemerge via projects in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy," he said in hisspeech when opening the 2013 Sarawak Education Expo 'A Journey ofProgress' here, today. Also present was assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's office(Technical Education Promotion) Datuk Len Talif Salleh. Abdul Taib said, looking at the expansion in the industrial sector, studentsmust take the opportunity, prepare themselves and target their achievements inthe future. In the meantime, Abdul Taib also praised the move taken by agencies such asthe Sarawak Foundation to spend RM30 million for higher education aid andpromoting technical education among students in Sarawak. Meanwhile, Len Talif, who is also Sarawak Bumiputera EconomicCoalition Fund (TEGAS), said the promotion implementation performance by TEGASwas something to be proud of when it approached 125,000 students from Form Threeto form six statewide to encourage them to take up technical studies. --BERNAMA NBA2 AZ AO

UNESCO DG COMMENDS M'SIA FOR INTRODUCING EDUCATION BLUEPRINT

Date: 09-11-2013

Author: FROM NURULHUDA CHE DAS / NCD NAK HA

UNESCO-COMMENDS PARIS, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025 is anambitious agenda to foster inclusive and equitable development of education asthe basis for higher economic growth, said United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) director-general Dr Irina Bokova. "Education is a basic human right that is essential to individual dignity,but it also brings sustainability to all development, as a force for positivetransformation and for economic success. "This is the spirit of Malaysia s National Education Blueprint 2013-2025,"she said at the Gallery Walk of the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025 atUnesco's headquarters here Friday. The gallery walk was hosted by Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Tan SriMuhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education Minister. Commending Malaysia on the initiative, she said the Blueprint launched inSeptember also put Malaysia as a good example and that it could be applicableand useful for other Unesco member countries. "We in Unesco, we believe in this, we believe that it is achievable, that iswhy such examples are important for us to show that it can be done if there isfocus and the right resources," she said. Bokova said she was pleased and proud that Unesco contributed to theBlueprint through the Education Policy Review launched in 2011 by the Ministryof Education, to enhance the quality of education and to prepare the childrenand youth of Malaysia for the needs of the 21st century. She noted that the Policy Review was a unique process, involving all keyactors, to craft an independent assessment and set of policy recommendations tobe followed by support to their implementation through capacity development andinnovative approaches. "Drawing on this experience, education policy review is now one of thepriorities of Unesco in its education work. I can only thank the government ofMalaysia for the learning opportunity this has been for the organisation. "Many countries today are looking to Unesco for its independent and qualityadvice, for support to capacity-building, to greater equity and quality ineducation. This has been a learning opportunity for all countries. "This will be taken forward through the joint support of Unesco and theOrganisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and I look forward tofurther requests from other member states," she said. Bokova said Malaysia had rich experiences to share and a horizon of goodpractices that can be useful for other countries. "And this is also Unesco s role, to provide a platform for the sharing ofexperience. To be meaningful, to be sustainable, development must be equitable

and inclusive. It must be balanced and holistic. "Education is the most powerful way to integrate all dimensions of thisagenda," she said. She also saw the strategic importance the government of Malaysiaattributes to education in its national development when visiting Malaysia lastMay. "I was deeply honoured to visit Malaysia and to meet with Prime MinisterNajib Razak (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak), and to lead a discussion ofcontemporary challenges of economic growth and also education. "This visit took place also on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of theInternational Centre for South-South Cooperation for Science, Technology andInnovation, a leading Category Two Centre under the auspices of Unesco," shesaid. -- BERNAMA NCD NAK HA

M'SIA WILLING TO ENGAGE WITH IIEP ON EDUCATION BLUEPRINT - MUHYIDDIN

Date: 07-11-2013

Author: From Nurulhuda Che Das / NCD LES AO

MUHYIDDIN-IIEP PARIS, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is willing to engage with theInternational Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) to execute the MalaysianEducation Blueprint 2013-2025 in the most efficient and effective manner. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the EducationMinister, said the engagement was not for the whole spectrum of the plan but ina certain sub-sectoral level of it. "IIEP can come in to assist us not for planning anymore because we haveplanned it, but on how to execute those things in the most efficient and, ofcourse as good as possible way so that we can see the results at the end of theday," he said at a meeting with IIEP director Khalil Mahshi at the institute,here Wednesday. Also present were Muhyiddin's wife, Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman, andMalaysian Ambassador to France Tan Sri Ismail Omar. The IIEP, a centre for training and research specialised in educationalplanning and management, was created by the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in 1963. It is supported by grants from Unesco and by voluntary contributions frommember states and others. Muhyiddin said there were also possibilities of partnership andcollaboration between IIEP and Institut Aminuddin Baki (IAB) in Pahang incertain areas especially in research and training. "I would agree that we should raise the contributions, maybe US$50,000(RM159,041) annually from US$5,000 (RM15,904) annually before this, butconditional upon IIEP collaborating with IAB closely," he said.

Speaking to Malaysian journalists after the meeting, Mahshi said he wasimpressed with the efforts undertaken by the Education Ministry in order todevelop quality education in the country. "There is also a possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding onareas of collaboration, where we can provide our experience, but we also wouldlike to learn from the experience of Malaysia especially in the educationalsector," he said. -- BERNAMA NCD LES AO

CROSS LEARNING ACTIVITIES AT EDUCATION MINISTRY MUST BE BOOSTED - MUHYIDDIN

Date: 16-11-2013

Author: / VSS JM HA

MUHYIDDIN-LEARNING SHAH ALAM, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today called for thecreation of numerous cross learning activities at the Education Ministry tofurther boost the lifelong learning culture. The Deputy Prime Minister said the effort must be carried out through thesharing of resources whether from the perspective of finance, energy orinfrastructure. "With wise and prudent sharing of resources, we can maximise output andsimultaneously minimise implementation costs of life-long learning," he saidwhen closing the 2013 National-Level Life-long LearningCarnival (My3L) here. Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said, through the Blue Oceanstrategy which focused on innovation, creativity and productivity, the ministrywas able to generate ideas and plan new approaches in exploring opportunities toexpand lifelong learning effectively. He said towards this end, efforts and collaboration between ministries,government agencies and private sector must be enriched through numerousprogrammes and activities including corporate social responsibility programesand voluntary services. Commenting further, Muhyiddin said in order to complete formal education,by 2020, the government targeted to boost participation in lifelong learning to50 per cent of the populace. "This is because the existing formal education system cannot accommodate theproduction of skilled manpower which is greatly needed by the country to achievehigh income, developed nation status," he said, adding that the level of

participation in lifelong learning at national level in 2010 was 10 per cent. He said life long learning was crowned as the third pillar in the humanresources development in the country, hand-in-hand with the schooling system andtertiary education. "It is also capable of providing value-add to society, especially workerswho are also critical contributors to national productivity and development," hesaid. He said to date, 15 ministries solidly supported the lifelonglearning culture while 32 polytechnics and 86 community colleges offerednumerous programmes and activities. He said cumulative participation in short coursess under the Life LongLearning concept at the community colleges since their establishment till lastyear had exceeded a million people. Muhyiddin also said there was need to identify learning requirements ofresidents in urban areas as projections showed 60 per cent of the world'spopulation would be living in cities by 2030. Earier, Muhyiddin had witnessed signing of memorandums of understandingbetween the Community College Studies Department and four smart partners of theEducation Ministry including MMC-Gamuda and Huawei, among others to developeducation and training programmes that were mutually beneficial. He also launched an online directory on Life Long Learning at the sameevent. -- BERNAMA VSS JM HA

MALAYSIA EDUCATION BLUEPRINT IN LINE WITH UNESCO 'EDUCATION FOR ALL' GOALS

Date: 03-10-2013

Author: / FBR KIA MO

MUHYIDDIN-UNESCO MELAKA, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Education Blueprint launched on Sept6 is an initiative that is in line with Unesco's strategy to achieveeducation for all, says Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said Malaysia had taken variousinitiatives to widen access to education and to achieve educational equity, aswell as to raise the quality of national education. "Through the Malaysia Education Blueprint (2013-2025), I'm hopeful andserious in the efforts to ensure students are given quality education regardlessof their level and background," he said when launching the Malaysia Unesco Day2013 celebration at Dataran Memorial Kemerdekaan, Bandar Hilir, here, today. Also present were Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Women,

Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim, Melaka ChiefMinister Datuk Idris Haron and director of the Unesco Regional Office inJakarta, Prof Hubert Gijzen. The celebration will be held for four days starting today and featuresvarious activities such as cultural performances, music and traditional games.This year, Malaysia also celebrates its 55th year of membership in Unesco. Muhyiddin, who is also the Malaysian National Commission for Unescopresident, said Malaysia was now listed as a contributing country through theMalaysia-Unesco Cooperation Programme (MUCP) to assist member countries,particularly the less developed to achieve the global body's objectives,especially involving education for all. "I am confident that through the MUCP, Malaysia and Unesco will worktogether to help countries in need from Africa, the Asia-Pacific region and thesmall island nations," he said. Muhyiddin said through the MUCP, Malaysia could also share local expertiseand the country's best practices, especiallly in Unesco's fields of competency. Since Malaysia joined Unesco in 1958, he said, it had played an active andsignificant role in Unesco's activities and was part of the Unesco ExecutiveBoard five times, as well as chosen several times to participate as sub-organs of the world body. Muhyiddin said Malaysia was committed to upholding the aspirations andcommitment of Unesco in struggling for peace and prosperity through its fieldsof competency. For example, he said, in line with Unesco's effort to eradicate genderinequality, Malaysia had formulated the National Plan of Action for theAdvancement of Women (2009-2014) as a guideline for the implementation of theprogramme to integrate women in national development. "In 2004, the government announced the policy of having 30 per cent womenholding top posts in the public sector. The impact from this policy is that thefigure rose to 31.7 per cent in 2012 compared to 18.8 per cent in 2004." Muhyiddin said the government had also announced the same policy for thecorporate sector, thus proving its commitment to empowering women's role innational development. He also said that sharing of information and knowledge through informationcommunication technology (ICT) had the power of changing the people's economy,hence the government had launched the National Broadband initiative on March 24,2010 to expand broadband coverage. "Until August 2013, broadband usage rose to 67 per cent from 56 per cent in2010. The encouraging increase covers 6.3 million households nationwide comparedto 4.7 million in 2010," he said. -- BERNAMA FBR KIA MO

MALAYSIA STRIVING TOWARDS QUALITY EDUCATION - MARY YAP

Date: 02-10-2013

Author: / NO NO MO

MARY-LANGUAGE MELAKA, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is striving towards quality education,including enhancing English Language proficiency so as to be on par with theinternational level, said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching. She said among the Education Ministry's efforts was through extra activitiessuch as public speaking, games and songs. "There are opportunities and room for learning English through indirectmeans such as this English Unity Carnival," she told reporters at the launchingof the national-level Karnival Perpaduan Bahasa Inggeris 2013 at the MelakaInternational Trade Centre, here, today. The two-day inaugural carnival organised by the ministry, is attended bymore than 350 students from throughout the country competing in seven categoriesincluding debate and action songs. She said the carnival was part of the Malaysia Education Blueprint2013-2026, recently launched by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. "This event, participated by mainly primary school students, gives primeattention to the learning of English in a fun and interactive way," she said. Yap, who was happy with the enthusiasm of the participants and parents'cooperation, announced that the event would be held yearly. -- BERNAMA NO NO MO

MALAYSIA EDUCATION BLUEPRINT IS PROVEN, TESTED

Date: 12-09-2013

Author: Rohani Mohd Ibrahim / RMI KHY GR

BLUEPRINT-TESTED KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Education Blueprint2013-2025 announced last week will serve as a fruitful transformation plan asits implementation has been tested and proven with the success of 13 trust

schools. Independent Review Panel on Education chairman Tan Sri Professor DzulkifliAbdul Razak said trust school, from his point of view, was an existing exampleof a 'transformed school'. "The issue people always ask me is, will the blueprint work? And I canconfidently say it will work. Because trust school is a model of school whichhas already been transformed over the last two years. "Without the trust school, it is difficult to convince people how theblueprint is going to roll out, without model and without experienced people. "We are fortunate that trust schools have already been there," he said when metat the Bernama headquarters here yesterday. Dzulkifli, who is vice-chancellor of AlBukhary International University, andScience University of Malaysia (USM) vice-chancellor from 2000 to 2011, saidthere were 13 trust schools which witnessed the blueprint being pre-implemented. Five of the trust schools are in Sarawak, five in Johor and three in KualaLumpur. Dzulkifli said this when asked to comment on the Malaysia Education Blueprintwhich was announced last week by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin,who is also education minister. "After two years of the trust schools being launched, now we can see the majorchanges. (The) Culture of learning in the trust school was changed to see ourstudents become the 21st centuries learners. "Students of trust schools are more confident and articulate. For example,when the deputy prime minister visited one of the trust schools in Gelang Patahon Sept 5, he was led through the school by students, and not the schoolleadership team," he added. Dzulkifli said with the transformation in the Malaysian learning systemimplemented in trust schools, Malaysian students experienced similar learningstyle with students in the United Kingdom, Australia and United States. "There are major intangible achievements by students of trust schools in theirlevel of confidence, leadership skills, the way students collaborate withone another in the classrooms, and the way they question their teachers andcommunicate with their teachers through a programme called 'Students VoiceGroup'," he said. He added that trust schools were not just indicative of a string of A's andpercentages but also a student's human skills. "If you obtain a first-class honours, that's fine. But the moment you get intothe job market, people don't talk about your first-class honours, anymore.People talk about what kind of first-class honours you are. "You can be a first-class honours but if you can't even open your mouth (toexpress something in the proper perspective), I think you are out. So, we

arelooking at the total make-up of the students, which is so different from the so-called conventional schools. "In trust schools, we don't just celebrate 5As or 4As but we celebrate astudent's achievement as a person," said Dzulkifli. Therefore, he said, the modules in the blueprint had already been testedthrough the establishment of trust schools and now, it was just a matter of howto implement them in schools. "The blueprint modules are all well-tested modules, not modules that weare going to try. I don't think we take that kind of a risk. "Students are not guinea-pigs. All these modules are designed by profesionalsand it worked. Our role now is how to implement them," he added. Dzulkifli said the trust school was an idea initiated by Khazanah NasionalBerhad in a kind of public-private partnership. "If we want to do a transformation and let the education ministry handle italone, it will probably, be difficult. This is because Malaysian schools havea model that has been running for ages, and to get the schools to changeovernight, I think it is not going to be easy." Dzulkifli said the idea of trust school was basically for a school to workwith Khazanah Nasional Berhad and see how the school could be transformed bynegotiating with the ministry. He said trust school allowed concerned parties to make changes to thecurriculum and other aspects of existing schools to see some tangible changes. "The schools that we choose as trust schools are a variety of schools suchas rural school, urban, vernacular (Kangkar Pulai Tamil school), national schooland minority (Orang Asli school). "Everybody (students in all schools) will get the same experience, not likenow, the experience they have is different in separate schools," said Dzulkifli. He said the system in schools now was, 'we drill the students to get 5As butafter the students get 5As, that's it'. "With the transformed school or trust school, if they learn properly, theywill get 5As. If we pressure the students, they will perform but at the end ofthe day, I don't think they will learn. "The challenge now is, how they learn, and performance will follow soon.The idea now is not to just talk about schooling but learning. With transformedschool, lifelong learning becomes a Malaysian's second nature and part andparcel of life," he added. -- BERNAMA RMI KHY GR

GERAKAN STATES SUPPORT FOR MALAYSIA EDUCATION BLUEPRINT

Date: 13-09-2013

Author: / TAJ AEO MO

GERAKAN-BLUEPRINT KUALA TERENGGANU, Sept 13 (Bernama) -- Gerakan today stated its support forthe Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 released by the government recently. Its acting president, Datuk Chang Ko Youn said the party hoped that theeducation blueprint tabled by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin,could take the national education system forward. "The attitude of the United Chinese School Committees Association ofMalaysia (Dong Zong) in questioning the blueprint is wrong. "Among others, they question the move of increasing the time allotted forBahasa Malaysia at national-type Chinese schools (SJKC) from 180 minutes to 240minutes. Questioning this is unacceptable." He said this after opening the Terengganu Gerakan annual delegates'conference, here, today, in response to Dong Zong's reaction to the educationblueprint. Chang said the blueprint was drawn up to strengthen the usage of BahasaMalaysia, including raising the proficiency of Chinese pupils in the nationallanguage. "Currently, most Chinese pupils who enter secondary school are notproficient in Bahasa Malaysia, hence they will face problems. "It'll be the same when they enter Universiti Malaya, Universiti SainsMalaysia or any other public universities which requires them to be proficientin Bahasa Malaysia." He said the blueprint was indeed good but it should not affect teaching ofthe Chinese language in schools. The Gerakan leader said Dong Zong should be worried about English Languageas it was a threat to Chinese Language while Bahasa Malaysia was not. Chang said he understood that the government had no intention of destroyingthe Chinese language or eroding its teaching as China's economy was expandingrapidly, besides it being the world's second biggest economic power. -- BERNAMA TAJ AEO MO