1. `New education plan is about quality over quantity'
Date: 08-10-2013
Author: Mustapha Kamil
BALI: Malaysia wants its investment in education to focus more on quality
returns rather than mere output, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak
said here yesterday.
Answering a question at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Forum
here yesterday, Najib said the Malaysia Education Blueprint emphasised the
learning of Science, Mathematics and English.
Najib was a panel member at the dialogue on "Investing in infrastructure
and human capital" with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.
"We invest heavily on education and have decided to focus on the
learning of Science and Mathematics. We also realised that to compete
internationally, our people must master the English language as when we
switched to a fully Bahasa Malaysia education system in the 1970s, we lost
some of our international competitiveness."
The blueprint also seeks to ensure all schools have the same facilities
and for Malaysia to be in the top league of the Trends in International
Mathematics and Science Study.
( END )
Source : New Straits Times
Aiming to be among top education systems
Date: 15-12-2013
Author: Tharanya Arumugam
KUALA LUMPUR: THE Education Ministry is striving to improve Malaysia's
ranking in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and
expects it to be higher in 2015, said newly appointed Director-General of
Education Datuk Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof.
He said a higher ranking was achievable with the implementation of the
Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 launched on Sept 6.
"I will go down to the ground to ensure all plans under the Blueprint
are effectively carried out by those responsible to do so," he said.
He noted that his priority was to execute the plans under the Blueprint
to be among the top one-third of the best education systems worldwide by
2025.
"PISA rankings help us identify our position in the global education
context. 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 the
assessment. Malaysia ranked 52 out of 65 countries, scoring 421 in
Mathematics, 398 in Reading and 420 in Science.
Malaysian students scored below average in the results released on
Tuesday, with only a slight improvement in Mathematics.
The global average score was 494 in Mathematics, 496 in Reading and 501
in Science, and Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea
were the top five countries.
Khair said the rankings indicated that Malaysian students needed to
improve their skills in analysing and in higher order thinking skills.
"Moving forward, there is a need to emphasise Higher Order Thinking
Skills (HOTS).
We have been focusing on content based teaching and learning, and not so

2. much on application and thinking skills.
"Secondly, it could be also be due to the way lessons were being carried
out, where focus is placed on finishing the syllabus," he added.
"Students here were used to content-based learning, in which they
memorised the content of the syllabus."
PISA focuses questions that test for higher-order thinking skills such
as application and reasoning.
Malaysia's national assessments, on the other hand, have a heavier slant
towards questions that test for content knowledge.
He said higher order thinking skills was among the specific skills and
attributes that students would need to thrive in tomorrow's economy and
globalised 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 the
assessment with scores equal to that in Shanghai.
"Hence, we are going to conduct a second round of analysis, to identify
how these schools gained high scores."
He added that the good scores could be due to the school environment and
surroundings, where students were encouraged to communicate, collaborate,
and express themselves in class.
Besides that, he said, the school teachers and headmaster would have
played a significant role in championing creative and innovative learning
inside and outside classrooms.
Parents too would have extended their support to their children, he
said.
"The schools may have great leadership, a creative thinking headmaster
and teachers who do not solely rely on the curriculum and textbooks, but
go a step ahead in utilising gadgets and additional learning materials to
tutor students.
"The ministry will look at these schools as role models, and would
strive to implement similar teaching and learning methods in schools
nationwide."
The ministry, he said, was also working on improving thinking
skills-related initiatives and teachers' skills to improve the education
system.
"According to studies, the most vital criteria to produce quality
students is to have quality teachers, strong leadership, and curriculum.
"We have intensified teacher's training, where we provide training and
teaching modules that stress on application, understanding and thinking.
"We will be closely monitoring and evaluating the progress of the
initiatives in the Blueprint.
"Secondly, we want to ensure all our programme managers and about 300
officials from district to state level exert strong control over the
initiatives implemented in all schools under the close monitoring of all
138 District Education offices nationwide."
In 2009, Malaysia participated in PISA for the first time and scored 404
in Mathematics, 414 in Reading and 422 in Science.
PISA is administered by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) every three years in both OECD and non-OECD countries
and offers students questions in the main language of instruction in their
respective countries.
( END )
Source : New Straits Times

3. Thumbs up for our education plan
Date: 13-09-2013
Author: Hamidah Atan
LONDON: THE Malaysia Development Education Plan 2013-2025 has earned
praises from United Kingdom's captains of industry who described it as an
enabler in producing quality and wholesome professionals.
Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who spent close to two
hours meeting top executives of British companies and universities two
days ago here, said he was happy that they were impressed with the
education plan.
"A representative from Reading University and others congratulated
Malaysia for launching the education master plan which they believed could
strengthen educational collaborations between Malaysia and the UK.
"They also believed that by starting pupils from primary schools, this
plan can produce quality and wholesome students, not just for Malaysia but
the 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 media
yesterday.
"I think criticisms (against the education plan) are common and we are
taking them as a challenge."
The education plan, he said, was an important document for the country's
education system to be on a par with developed countries.
"I discussed with the prime minister about two years ago on the need to
review the education policy and he agreed. We received the feedback and
input from thousands of people."
Under the education plan, which Muhyiddin launched recently, universal
access and full enrolment of all children from preschool to upper
secondary school by 2020 was one of the targets.
In terms of quality, the Malaysian education system hopes to be in the
top third of countries in international assessments, such as the Programme
for International Student Assessment and the Trends in International
Mathematics 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 as
well as to further maximise student outcomes within the budget levels
while the government will maintain the current level of investment in the
education system through efficiency.
The ministry is also hoping to create an education system that gives
children shared values and experiences by embracing diversity.
( END )
Source : New Straits Times
Blueprint will transform education, says Muhyiddin
Date: 07-09-2013
Author: Rahmat Khairulrijal; Tharanya Arumugam; Tasnim Lokman; Balqis Lim
KUALA LUMPUR: THE Malaysia Education Blueprint unveiled yesterday will be
the catalyst to a comprehensive transformation of the country's education
system to produce a generation of all-rounded pupils and educators.
The blueprint, unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin
Yassin yesterday, will also be the backbone of the nation's overall
national transformation programme.

4. It will also bridge gaps in the academic achievements of urban and rural
pupils, as well as iron out disparities caused by socio-economic and
gender factors.
The entire education system will see significant transformation by the
end 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 to
meet its high aspirations in an increasingly competitive global
environment.
He said this would require a new perspective so that students could
develop skills needed to face the needs of the 21st century. To this end,
he said, the government had crafted the blueprint, providing a
comprehensive plan for a rapid and sustainable transformation of the
country's education system through to 2025.
"By building on the range of initiatives introduced as National Key
Result Areas, it sets out the fundamental changes required.
"From how we approach student learning, the way we recruit, train and
reward our teachers and principals right through to how the Education
Ministry itself operates, it lays a process for that change."
At the launch yesterday, Muhyiddin urged all quarters to give their full
support to the blueprint.
In allaying concerns voiced by disgruntled factions over the
implementation of the blueprint, Muhyiddin said the blueprint was
formulated 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 previously
voiced concerns over Bahasa Malaysia curriculum in vernacular schools,
supported the plan.
Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said the government had taken
the middle ground to accommodate the needs of those who wanted to retain
the curriculum of vernacular schools.
However, to enhance pupils' proficiency in the national language,
Muhyiddin said the contact hours for Bahasa Malaysia classes in vernacular
schools would be increased from 180 minutes to 240 minutes a week.
Muhyiddin said the government never intended to abolish vernacular
schools or the learning of mother tongue languages, as these were part and
parcel of the country's culture.
"If there are those who say we are abolishing mother tongues, it is
untrue."
Part of the plan to produce better pupils include the infusion of Higher
Order Thinking Skills-type questions into the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah
Rendah and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia exams which will require pupils to use
analytical and evaluational skills.
Enrolment for disabled, special needs and Orang Asli pupils is aimed at
100 per cent by 2025. International standardised tests will also be
included to gauge pupils' achievement in language learning, Mathematics
and the Sciences.
The teaching profession will also be strengthened, with one of the
highlights being to only allow the top 30 per cent of graduates to become
educators.
The government has also lined up a series of commitments to provide
access and better infrastructure. For example, all schools will have basic
infrastructure requirements, starting with Sabah and Sarawak, by 2015.
At a function at Universiti Malaya later yesterday, Muhyiddin said the
government had spent RM200 billion, or roughly 16 per cent of the federal
Budget, on primary to tertiary education.
He said this was in line with the goal under the nation's Economic
Transformation Programme (ETP) to have more than 3.3 million skilled
workers 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 the

5. demands of this expansion.
"We want to produce more experts and with that, the government is
providing many educational opportunities for the people."
Implementation
A SPECIAL entity comprising talented officers from within and outside
the Education Ministry will monitor the progress of the Malaysia Education
Development Plan 2013-2025. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
said the Education Implementation and Performance Unit (Padu) will apply
corporate management methods in overseeing the plan. He also said an
annual report and status of achievements would be made available to the
public. "The setting up of special entity like this has never been done by
the Education Ministry in any of its previous plannings," he said.
Muhyiddin said the government would continue to engage all the
stakeholders and hold dialogues at the end of each of the three waves
during the plan's implementation.
( END )
Source : New Straits Times
`Support education blueprint'
Date: 05-09-2013
Author: Ili Liyana Mokhtar; Koi Kye Lee
KUALA LUMPUR: THE support of all stakeholders is crucial to the successful
implementation of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, which will
be launched tomorrow.
This is to ensure the nation's education system is on a par with those
in developed countries such as Finland, Singapore and China.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said among the areas
emphasised in the blueprint were teachers, school leaders, school quality,
curriculum and assessment, command of multiple languages, post-secondary
education opportunities, parents and communities, resource efficiency and
effectiveness, as well as the education delivery system.
"The blueprint was drawn up with precision and care, with contributions
from international and local educational experts.
"It is a comprehensive education plan that will bring big improvements
to the country's education system," he said in TV3's Soal Jawab programme
with Media Prima executive director (news and editorial operations) Datuk
Ahmad A. Talib yesterday.
Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said among the suggestions
taken into account during the formulation of the blueprint was
strengthening the teaching profession.
"We took into account the administrative burden of teachers, where it
has been said that teachers not only teach, but also handle administrative
matters.
"Steps, such as providing a total of 10,000 administrative assistants in
phases to schools, are clearly stated in the blueprint to ensure that
teachers can focus on teaching."
He also said 70,000 English teachers have sat the Cambridge Placement
Test, while another 5,000 have completed their training to improve
language proficiency.
"This is to ensure we provide the best quality teachers for our
students."
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 strong

6. network of parents and teachers, with the community dedicated to providing
quality education for students.
"This is why we plan to strengthen the role of Parent-Teacher
Associations in schools and perhaps, provide funds for them in the next
budget so that there will be more active involvement."
He urged parents to change their mindset in regard to their children's
education and not think that educating their children was the sole
responsibility of schools.
"Schools should be seen as a place where all parties can come to an
understanding for the benefit of the students.
"This can be achieved when schools make parents and the community feel
that their presence is welcomed."
Muhyiddin said the ministry had recently launched tool kits to help
parents and schools mould successful and well-adjusted children.
The blueprint is based on points raised during the National Education
Dialogue, which was held between April and July last year.
Based on comprehensive studies and pilot projects conducted in multiple
phases, the blueprint is a combination of what is most effective to
achieve the desired transformation in the education system.
Muhyiddin will launch the blueprint at the Kuala Lumpur Convention
Centre.
The final draft was based on the ministry's detailed study on revising
aspects of the current system to make improvements, as well as feedback
from more than 11,000 parents, teachers and students, among others.
With meaningful learning, students are expected to develop knowledge and
thinking skills, language and cognition with bilingualism, ethics and
spirituality, leadership skills and a robust national identity.
On Sept 11 last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had launched
the early report of the Malaysia Education Blueprint, which focuses on six
attributes - knowledge, thinking skills, leadership, bilingual
proficiency, ethics and national identity - which can be achieved through
different approaches, depending on each student's standards and
capabilities.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching said the launch of
the blueprint would go ahead as planned despite objections from several
Chinese education groups.
At a function in Putrajaya yesterday, she said the ministry had
organised several meetings with stakeholders and ironed out misconceptions
on the blueprint.
Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association), a vocal critic
of the blueprint, responded that it would adopt a "wait and see" approach
on the blueprint's contents before proceeding. Additional reporting by
Lavanya Lingan
( END )
Source : New Straits Times
Set to bring about big leap in education
Date: 02-09-2013
Author: Kalbana Perimbanayagam
PUTRAJAYA: THE Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 will encapsulate
quality and holistic empowerment of teachers, students and the education
system.
Education director-general Tan Sri Abdul Ghafar Mahmud said the final
report of the blueprint would be launched on Sept 6 by Deputy Prime

7. Minister 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 education
system.
"Based on the points raised during the National Education Dialogue,
which was held between April and July last year, the ministry
conceptualised and drew up the education development plan for the Malaysia
Education Blueprint."
Based on comprehensive studies and pilot projects conducted in multiple
phases, he said the blueprint is a wholesome combination of what is most
effective to achieve the desired transformation in the education system.
Muhyiddin will launch the blueprint at the Kuala Lumpur Convention
Centre.
On Sept 11 last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had launched
the early report of the Malaysia Education Blueprint, which focuses on six
attributes - knowledge, thinking skills, leadership, bilingual
proficiency, ethics and national identity, all which can be achieved
through various approaches depending on the pupil's standards and
capabilities.
"Experts from various fields, as well as Unesco have complimented the
blueprint. So far, it has been well received and trial runs conducted have
been successful," he said.
Ghafar said apart from the input obtained from articles, blogs and
letters from the mainstream and social media, the ministry had also
considered 153 suggestions from non-governmental organisations,
associations, institutions, educationist and the public, including
students.
The recommendations were submitted during the three-month long National
Education Dialogue sessions, an initiative by the government to gather
suggestions from stakeholders on a large scale on ways to enhance the
education system.
The final draft was based on the ministry's detailed study on revising
aspects of the current system to make improvements as well as feedback
obtained from around the country from over 11,000 parents, teachers, and
students, among others.
With meaningful learning, pupils are expected to develop knowledge and
thinking skills, language and cognition with bilingualism, ethics and
spirituality, leadership skills, and a robust national identity.
Ghafar said the final report would be followed by the formulation and
development of the new education strategic plan.
"The ministry will also evaluate and conduct more studies on the
implementation of the 11 initiatives at each stage, to determine its
effectiveness, acceptance and to determine the challenges which might crop
up with time."
Among the areas emphasised in the blueprint are teachers, school
leaders, school quality, curriculum and assessment, command of multiple
languages, post secondary education opportunities, parents and
communities, resource efficiency and effectiveness as well as education
delivery system.
( END )
Source : New Straits Times
No change to education blueprint

8. Date: 30-08-2013
PUTRAJAYA: The government will not bow to pressure from critics of the
Malaysia Education Blueprint, said Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin
Yassin.
Muhyiddin, who is also deputy prime minister, said the government was
committed towards implementing the Education Blueprint to enhance national
unity.
Malay Consultative Council secretary-general Dr Hasan Mad said this was
said by Muhyiddin during a meeting he chaired yesterday.
Hasan said Muhyiddin had stated that there was no reason for any
quarters, including Dong Zong (the United Chinese School Committee's
Association of Malaysia) to reject the new education policy because it
covered the interests of all races and would further spur national unity.
"The deputy prime minister has given his commitment that he will not bow
to any pressure as there is no reason for him to do so."
He said representatives from 10 non-governmental organisations attended
the meeting and handed over some resolutions which had been agreed upon
during the National Education Congress held in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
"This is our stand -- that the Malaysia Education Blueprint be
implemented. We do not want the government to bow to Dong Zong who
represents only a small group with its own personal interest.
"We know they will stop at nothing to make sure the policy is not
carried out as they are getting support from politicians who are
capitalising on the matter for their own gain."
Last Tuesday, the congress unanimously agreed to support the education
blueprint, urging the government to implement it and use the Malay
language as the main medium in schools to instil national unity.
The resolutions also called on the government to reject the setting up
of Chinese secondary schools and to identify Chinese private colleges that
failed to adopt the national education curriculum.
( END )
Source : New Straits Times
All set for a transformation in education
Date: 24-08-2013
Author: Hashini Kavishtri Kannan; Tasnim Lokman
PUTRAJAYA: THE education system under the Malaysian Education Blueprint
(2013-2025) to be launched next month will strive to deliver quality
education and produce pupils of international standards.
National Education Dialogue Panel chairman Tan Sri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Wan
Mohd Nordin said one of the outcomes in the blueprint was for schools to
be empowered to carry out teaching methods and systems which was deemed
best for their pupils.
"The Education Ministry has realised and accepted that education can't
be centralised to achieve education excellence among pupils whose capacity
and capabilities are different.
"Pupils have unique characteristics, and schools must be empowered to
promote 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 the
pupil's standards and capabilities.
Headed by Wan Zahid, the National Dialogue on Education 2012 was held in

9. several locations throughout the country since April to help conceptualise
and draw up the development plan for the Malaysian Education Blueprint.
The ministry took into account proposals from 153 letters and
memorandums from various non-governmental organisations, associations,
institutions, educationists and the public.
The recommendations were submitted during the three-month long National
Dialogue on Education sessions, an initiative by the government to gather
suggestions from stakeholders on a large scale on ways to enhance the
education system.
"This was the first time in the world that a government had invited
views from the public on a large scale to come up with a development plan
for national education.
"It was aimed at consolidating and enhancing the quality of all schools,
including national and vernacular schools, mission schools and
government-aided religious schools," the former director-general of
Education 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 ensure
the education system was on a par with that of developed nations, over the
course of the next 13 years.
The first wave, which would be the implementation of the blueprint, will
focus on teachers and core student skills.
The second wave will be building upon progress after wave three, between
2020 and 2025, would give schools complete autonomy to handle their own
administration.
Wan Zahid added that to bear a successful outcome, the ministry needs to
maintain simplicity in implementing the new policies.
"Simplicity is the mother of success.
"Therefore, implementation should be made comprehensible not only by
educationists but also by pupils and their parents."
He said the blueprint must have ownership, as it should be owned by
those 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 Malaysia
in the next 10 years, he said; "To have pupils who are intellectually and
academically compatible".
( END )
Source : New Straits Times
Fighting for education for all
Date: 28-08-2013
Author: Rueben Dudley
ON Aug 20, the Irish government honoured Malala Yousafzai with the
"Tipperary International Peace Award" in a ceremony in Tipperary, a
province 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 while
returning 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 Arab
Emirates and the United Kingdom, Malala survived the Taliban's attempts to
silence 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 and

10. perseverance to promote the fundamental right to education for every
child; her efforts to give women and girls in Pakistan access to education
and the impact she had on so many people worldwide.
The ceremony started with the song The Flower of Pakistan by a group of
children from the Roman Catholic Holy Rosary College, which received a
standing ovation from the audience.
Distinguished previous recipients of the prestigious award included
Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Bill Clinton and Benazir Bhutto.
On July 12 this year, on Malala's 16th birthday, the United Nations
designated that day as Malala Day, which was marked with the first ever
youth takeover of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Malala delivered an address in perfect English that impressed the more
than 500 youth representatives from nearly 80 countries, UN delegates and
millions of TV viewers worldwide.
She called on the international community to focus on promoting
universal and free access to quality education for all children and youth.
Malala urged "greater global emphasis on the wellbeing of the most
vulnerable sections of society, including women and children" and
supporting opportunities for everyone, without discrimination or
hindrance, to become worthy citizens in society.
Rueben Dudley, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
( END )
Source : New Straits Times
`Go all out to improve education'
Date: 22-08-2013
Author: Azura Abas; Koi Kye Lee
PUTRAJAYA: PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has urged Education
Ministry staff to continue doing whatever is necessary to boost the
quality of the nation's education system.
"I will give you my full support. Do your work to ensure the success of
the National Education Blueprint," he said at the ministry's Hari Raya
open house yesterday.
Present were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also
the education minister, and his wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman;
Education Minister 11 Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and their deputy ministers
Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching and P. Kamalanathan.
More than 5,000 people turned up at the open house and they were treated
to a sumptuous spread including satay, rendang and lemang.
It was reported that the government would launch the National Education
Development Masterplan 2013-2025 on Sept 6.
The master plan is aimed at improving the quality of national schools to
make them the first choice of every Malaysian.
It also strives to give every child the opportunity to get quality
education and to boost unity.
Experts have said that if Malaysia focused on the implementation of the
master plan, the country's education system would improve and be in the
top 30 per cent in the world.
Earlier when speaking to reporters at the Prime Minister's Department's
open house, Najib said Putrajaya's new "Endless Possibilities" campaign
was part of the nation's branding plan.
He said that it would not replace the 1Malaysia slogan introduced four
years ago.
"Malaysia is going to promote this."
The Endless Possibilities badge was pinned on the prime minister's right
lapel yesterday and the 1Malaysia logo was on his left lapel.
It was reported that the Endless Possibilities campaign had started

11. earlier 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 of
intertwined Ms and Ys in red, yellow and white on a blue background.
( END )
Source : New Straits Times
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 with
its current initiatives, particularly via the Malaysian Education
Blueprint, to
transform the education system into high gear.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar
said
the blueprint addressed many issues, including the deterioration of the
quality
of 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
the
results up to 2011, and we have seen the deterioration (quality of
education),"
he told the media after launching the Malaysia Economic Monitor December
2013
edition: High Performing Education here today.
Abdul Wahid said, from the government perspective, it was imperative to
continue focusing on the execution of various initiatives which were
already
identified in the blueprint.
According to the 2012 Pisa, of the 65 countries, Malaysia ranked No. 52
for
Mathematic, Science (53) and Reading (59).
The World Bank has suggested three priorities, namely, moving more
decisions
to schools, information to parents on school and student performance, and
improving 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

12. in the
state should eliminate any misconception on the future of students who
continue
their studies in the technical field.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said society must rid itself
of the
misconception that job opportunities were limited for a student took
technical
studies as the state economic landscape had changed.
"There are still students who are hesitant about opting for the
technical
field as a first choice with the assumption that opportunity is limited.
This is
not true. In the past it was true as the industrial sector in the state was
only
at 10 percent, now it has gone up to 26 percent.
"Furthermore, more job opportunities in the technical sector will also
emerge via projects in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy," he said
in his
speech when opening the 2013 Sarawak Education Expo 'A Journey of
Progress' 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,
students
must take the opportunity, prepare themselves and target their achievements
in
the future.
In the meantime, Abdul Taib also praised the move taken by agencies
such as
the Sarawak Foundation to spend RM30 million for higher education aid and
promoting technical education among students in Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Len Talif, who is also Sarawak Bumiputera Economic
Coalition Fund (TEGAS), said the promotion implementation performance by
TEGAS
was something to be proud of when it approached 125,000 students from Form
Three
to 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
an
ambitious agenda to foster inclusive and equitable development of education
as
the 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
positive

13. transformation and for economic success.
"This is the spirit of Malaysia s National Education Blueprint 20132025,"
she said at the Gallery Walk of the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025
at
Unesco's headquarters here Friday.
The gallery walk was hosted by Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education Minister.
Commending Malaysia on the initiative, she said the Blueprint launched
in
September also put Malaysia as a good example and that it could be
applicable
and useful for other Unesco member countries.
"We in Unesco, we believe in this, we believe that it is achievable,
that is
why such examples are important for us to show that it can be done if there
is
focus and the right resources," she said.
Bokova said she was pleased and proud that Unesco contributed to the
Blueprint through the Education Policy Review launched in 2011 by the
Ministry
of Education, to enhance the quality of education and to prepare the
children
and youth of Malaysia for the needs of the 21st century.
She noted that the Policy Review was a unique process, involving all key
actors, to craft an independent assessment and set of policy recommendations
to
be followed by support to their implementation through capacity development
and
innovative approaches.
"Drawing on this experience, education policy review is now one of the
priorities of Unesco in its education work. I can only thank the government
of
Malaysia for the learning opportunity this has been for the organisation.
"Many countries today are looking to Unesco for its independent and
quality
advice, for support to capacity-building, to greater equity and quality in
education. This has been a learning opportunity for all countries.
"This will be taken forward through the joint support of Unesco and the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and I look forward to
further requests from other member states," she said.
Bokova said Malaysia had rich experiences to share and a horizon of good
practices that can be useful for other countries.
"And this is also Unesco s role, to provide a platform for the sharing
of
experience. 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 this
agenda," she said.
She also saw the strategic importance the government of Malaysia
attributes to education in its national development when visiting Malaysia
last
May.
"I was deeply honoured to visit Malaysia and to meet with Prime Minister
Najib Razak (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak), and to lead a discussion of
contemporary challenges of economic growth and also education.
"This visit took place also on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of
the
International Centre for South-South Cooperation for Science, Technology and
Innovation, a leading Category Two Centre under the auspices of Unesco," she

14. said.
-- 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 the
International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) to execute the
Malaysian
Education Blueprint 2013-2025 in the most efficient and effective manner.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the
Education
Minister, said the engagement was not for the whole spectrum of the plan but
in
a certain sub-sectoral level of it.
"IIEP can come in to assist us not for planning anymore because we have
planned it, but on how to execute those things in the most efficient and, of
course as good as possible way so that we can see the results at the end of
the
day," 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, and
Malaysian Ambassador to France Tan Sri Ismail Omar.
The IIEP, a centre for training and research specialised in educational
planning 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
from
member states and others.
Muhyiddin said there were also possibilities of partnership and
collaboration between IIEP and Institut Aminuddin Baki (IAB) in Pahang in
certain 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, but
conditional upon IIEP collaborating with IAB closely," he said.
Speaking to Malaysian journalists after the meeting, Mahshi said he was
impressed with the efforts undertaken by the Education Ministry in order to
develop quality education in the country.
"There is also a possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding on
areas of collaboration, where we can provide our experience, but we also
would
like to learn from the experience of Malaysia especially in the educational
sector," he said.
-- BERNAMA
NCD LES AO

15. 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
the
creation of numerous cross learning activities at the Education Ministry to
further boost the lifelong learning culture.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the effort must be carried out through
the
sharing of resources whether from the perspective of finance, energy or
infrastructure.
"With wise and prudent sharing of resources, we can maximise output and
simultaneously minimise implementation costs of life-long learning," he said
when closing the 2013 National-Level Life-long Learning
Carnival (My3L) here.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said, through the Blue Ocean
strategy which focused on innovation, creativity and productivity, the
ministry
was able to generate ideas and plan new approaches in exploring
opportunities to
expand lifelong learning effectively.
He said towards this end, efforts and collaboration between ministries,
government agencies and private sector must be enriched through numerous
programmes and activities including corporate social responsibility
programes
and voluntary services.
Commenting further, Muhyiddin said in order to complete formal
education,
by 2020, the government targeted to boost participation in lifelong learning
to
50 per cent of the populace.
"This is because the existing formal education system cannot accommodate
the
production of skilled manpower which is greatly needed by the country to
achieve
high 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 human
resources development in the country, hand-in-hand with the schooling system
and
tertiary education.
"It is also capable of providing value-add to society, especially
workers
who are also critical contributors to national productivity and
development," he
said.
He said to date, 15 ministries solidly supported the lifelong
learning culture while 32 polytechnics and 86 community colleges offered
numerous programmes and activities.
He said cumulative participation in short coursess under the Life Long
Learning concept at the community colleges since their establishment till
last
year had exceeded a million people.
Muhyiddin also said there was need to identify learning requirements of
residents in urban areas as projections showed 60 per cent of the world's
population would be living in cities by 2030.

16. Earier, Muhyiddin had witnessed signing of memorandums of understanding
between the Community College Studies Department and four smart partners of
the
Education Ministry including MMC-Gamuda and Huawei, among others to develop
education and training programmes that were mutually beneficial.
He also launched an online directory on Life Long Learning at the same
event.
-- 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
Sept
6 is an initiative that is in line with Unesco's strategy to achieve
education for all, says Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said Malaysia had taken
various
initiatives to widen access to education and to achieve educational equity,
as
well as to raise the quality of national education.
"Through the Malaysia Education Blueprint (2013-2025), I'm hopeful and
serious in the efforts to ensure students are given quality education
regardless
of their level and background," he said when launching the Malaysia Unesco
Day
2013 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
Chief
Minister Datuk Idris Haron and director of the Unesco Regional Office in
Jakarta, Prof Hubert Gijzen.
The celebration will be held for four days starting today and features
various 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 Unesco
president, said Malaysia was now listed as a contributing country through
the
Malaysia-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 work
together to help countries in need from Africa, the Asia-Pacific region and
the
small island nations," he said.
Muhyiddin said through the MUCP, Malaysia could also share local
expertise
and 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
and
significant role in Unesco's activities and was part of the Unesco

17. Executive
Board five times, as well as chosen several times to participate as suborgans of the world body.
Muhyiddin said Malaysia was committed to upholding the aspirations and
commitment of Unesco in struggling for peace and prosperity through its
fields
of competency.
For example, he said, in line with Unesco's effort to eradicate gender
inequality, Malaysia had formulated the National Plan of Action for the
Advancement of Women (2009-2014) as a guideline for the implementation of
the
programme to integrate women in national development.
"In 2004, the government announced the policy of having 30 per cent
women
holding top posts in the public sector. The impact from this policy is that
the
figure 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
the
corporate sector, thus proving its commitment to empowering women's role in
national development.
He also said that sharing of information and knowledge through
information
communication 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 in
2010. The encouraging increase covers 6.3 million households nationwide
compared
to 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
the
international level, said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain
Ching.
She said among the Education Ministry's efforts was through extra
activities
such as public speaking, games and songs.
"There are opportunities and room for learning English through indirect
means such as this English Unity Carnival," she told reporters at the
launching
of the national-level Karnival Perpaduan Bahasa Inggeris 2013 at the Melaka
International Trade Centre, here, today.
The two-day inaugural carnival organised by the ministry, is attended
by
more than 350 students from throughout the country competing in seven

18. categories
including debate and action songs.
She said the carnival was part of the Malaysia Education Blueprint
2013-2026, recently launched by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin
Yassin.
"This event, participated by mainly primary school students, gives
prime
attention 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 Blueprint
2013-2025 announced last week will serve as a fruitful transformation plan
as
its implementation has been tested and proven with the success of 13 trust
schools.
Independent Review Panel on Education chairman Tan Sri Professor
Dzulkifli
Abdul Razak said trust school, from his point of view, was an existing
example
of a 'transformed school'.
"The issue people always ask me is, will the blueprint work? And I can
confidently say it will work. Because trust school is a model of school
which
has already been transformed over the last two years.
"Without the trust school, it is difficult to convince people how the
blueprint is going to roll out, without model and without experienced
people.
"We are fortunate that trust schools have already been there," he said
when met
at the Bernama headquarters here yesterday.
Dzulkifli, who is vice-chancellor of AlBukhary International
University, and
Science University of Malaysia (USM) vice-chancellor from 2000 to 2011,
said
there were 13 trust schools which witnessed the blueprint being preimplemented.
Five of the trust schools are in Sarawak, five in Johor and three in
Kuala
Lumpur.
Dzulkifli said this when asked to comment on the Malaysia Education
Blueprint
which 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 major
changes. (The) Culture of learning in the trust school was changed to see
our
students become the 21st centuries learners.

19. "Students of trust schools are more confident and articulate. For
example,
when the deputy prime minister visited one of the trust schools in Gelang
Patah
on Sept 5, he was led through the school by students, and not the school
leadership team," he added.
Dzulkifli said with the transformation in the Malaysian learning system
implemented in trust schools, Malaysian students experienced similar
learning
style with students in the United Kingdom, Australia and United States.
"There are major intangible achievements by students of trust schools
in their
level of confidence, leadership skills, the way students collaborate with
one another in the classrooms, and the way they question their teachers and
communicate with their teachers through a programme called 'Students Voice
Group'," he said.
He added that trust schools were not just indicative of a string of A's
and
percentages but also a student's human skills.
"If you obtain a first-class honours, that's fine. But the moment you
get into
the 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
(to
express something in the proper perspective), I think you are out. So, we
are
looking at the total make-up of the students, which is so different from
the socalled conventional schools.
"In trust schools, we don't just celebrate 5As or 4As but we celebrate
a
student's achievement as a person," said Dzulkifli.
Therefore, he said, the modules in the blueprint had already been
tested
through the establishment of trust schools and now, it was just a matter of
how
to implement them in schools.
"The blueprint modules are all well-tested modules, not modules that we
are 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
profesionals
and it worked. Our role now is how to implement them," he added.
Dzulkifli said the trust school was an idea initiated by Khazanah
Nasional
Berhad in a kind of public-private partnership.
"If we want to do a transformation and let the education ministry
handle it
alone, it will probably, be difficult. This is because Malaysian schools
have
a model that has been running for ages, and to get the schools to change
overnight, I think it is not going to be easy."
Dzulkifli said the idea of trust school was basically for a school to
work
with Khazanah Nasional Berhad and see how the school could be transformed
by
negotiating with the ministry.
He said trust school allowed concerned parties to make changes to the
curriculum and other aspects of existing schools to see some tangible
changes.
"The schools that we choose as trust schools are a variety of schools

20. such
as rural school, urban, vernacular (Kangkar Pulai Tamil school), national
school
and minority (Orang Asli school).
"Everybody (students in all schools) will get the same experience, not
like
now, 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 but
after the students get 5As, that's it'.
"With the transformed school or trust school, if they learn properly,
they
will get 5As. If we pressure the students, they will perform but at the end
of
the 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
transformed
school, lifelong learning becomes a Malaysian's second nature and part and
parcel 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
for
the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 released by the government
recently.
Its acting president, Datuk Chang Ko Youn said the party hoped that the
education 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 of
Malaysia (Dong Zong) in questioning the blueprint is wrong.
"Among others, they question the move of increasing the time allotted
for
Bahasa Malaysia at national-type Chinese schools (SJKC) from 180 minutes to
240
minutes. 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
education
blueprint.
Chang said the blueprint was drawn up to strengthen the usage of Bahasa
Malaysia, including raising the proficiency of Chinese pupils in the
national
language.
"Currently, most Chinese pupils who enter secondary school are not
proficient in Bahasa Malaysia, hence they will face problems.
"It'll be the same when they enter Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains
Malaysia or any other public universities which requires them to be

21. proficient
in Bahasa Malaysia."
He said the blueprint was indeed good but it should not affect teaching
of
the Chinese language in schools.
The Gerakan leader said Dong Zong should be worried about English
Language
as it was a threat to Chinese Language while Bahasa Malaysia was not.
Chang said he understood that the government had no intention of
destroying
the Chinese language or eroding its teaching as China's economy was
expanding
rapidly, besides it being the world's second biggest economic power.
-- BERNAMA
TAJ AEO MO