DEAR EDUCATION REFORMERS, This is what we want...
Reforms should look into making learning fun, says expert
IMPROVEMENT to early education and teaching, making learning fun and emphasising science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are among the reforms needed to boost the education system.
Educationist Professor Datuk Dr Noraini Idris said this would produce holistic students, graduates and workers.
“If you look at our National Education Philosophy, we want to produce individuals who are well balanced intellectually, spiritually, physically and emotionally.
“But we have been focusing too much on academics and lacking in terms of fun learning,” she told the New Sunday Times.
Citing Japan as an example, Noraini said the preschools there focused not only on academics but also character building.
“Children learn science, mathematics and language, but at the same time, they learn how to cooperate with each other by eating and doing activities together, which instil the spirit of togetherness. This is why Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad always asks us to look at the East.”
She said Malaysia could learn a lot from Finland, particularly in training teachers and making learning fun.
“In Finland, for teachers to teach science or mathematics, they must have a strong background in the subject and pedagogy.”
She said it would take graduates five years to become teachers.
“We need people who understand the right teaching techniques. That is why if our children study overseas, they enjoy going to school.
“They run to school because it is fun. Besides the academics, they are taught to communicate and present their work, so they become braver and are interested to learn.
“Parents are encouraged to go to school to share about their careers as some of them are experts in their respective areas.”
In October, a National Education Policy Committee, comprising 13 experts to study the nation’s education policies, was set up by the Education Ministry.
The committee was tasked with giving recommendations based on an independent research on the education policy of the country, as well as submitting recommendations based on a study on the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 (preschool to secondary education) and the 20152025 Malaysia Education Development Plan (Higher Education), with the cooperation of the National Education Advisory Council.
The committee is led by Malaysian Association for Education and Malaysian Society of Education Administration and Management president Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid, along with Universiti Teknologi Petronas Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning director Associate Professor Mohammad Tazli Azizan, Khalifah Model School academic director Hasrizal Abdul Jamil, KinderKaizen and Sri Aria Elementary School founder Dr Putri Afzan Maria Zulkifli and Microsoft Malaysia national technology officer Dr Dzaharudin Mansor.
The committee is expected to submit its report on April 30.
Noraini said it was hoped that the report would bring positive changes to the education system.
“We must make sure that suitable recommendations are implemented. Our country is turning 62 this year and our education system should be matured by now.”
She hoped the recommendations would include improvement to STEM teaching.
“Enrolment into the science stream at secondary schools has been poor for many years. We used to have four or five sciencestream classes in a school, but now we have only one or two.
“We must find ways to boost interest in science and mathematics,” said the National STEM Movement chairman.
On March 12, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said the number of students taking STEM had declined over the years.
“Science subjects should not be confined to labs. Activities, such as gardening, will allow students to have a better understanding of agriculture, allowing them to ask questions and think,” Noraini said, adding that teachers and schools must be more receptive to STEM. Page 1 pic: Members of the National Education Policy Committee, which was formed in October. In the background is the Penang Free School.