KGBS not clear how National Education Policy Committee can improve education system

KUCHING: Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union ( KGBS) is still unclear on how the newly established National Education Policy Committee (JKKPDN) can improve the current education system.

Its president Ahmad Malie said that while the line-up of JKKPDN comprises experts in theoretical aspects, none of them seemed to be experts or practitioners of grassroots teaching.

“For us in KGBS, we agree that those experts in theories of teaching are needed in any organisation that studies education policies. However, we are of the opinion that inclusion of those experts in teaching at the grassroots level will make such studies more effective.

“Therefore, we hope the Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik will add one or two experts in grassroots teaching as members of this committee, to make it more capable in ensuring the improvements to our education system,” he said.

On another matter, KGBS also urged the federal government to hold more engagement sessions with teachers unions nationwide before any new policies are implemented.

He explained that teachers unions are important stakeholders in the education system to ensure effectiveness in the implementation of policies.

“We are confident in the Education Minister, who is always concerned over the roles of stakeholders, that he will seek opinion of teachers before any new policies are implemented,” he said.

On Thursday ( Oct 18), it was announced that MoE has set up a 13-member National Education Policy Committee comprising experts policies.

The appointments are for six months, from this month to April next year, and they are expected to make recommendations based on independent research on education policies.

The committee will study the Malaysia Education Blueprint 20132025 ( pre- school until secondary education) and the 2015-2025 Malaysia Education Development Plan ( Higher Education), with the cooperation of the National Education Advisory Council.

The committee is chaired by Malaysian Association for Education and Malaysian Society of Education Administration and Management president Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid.

The deputy chairman is Associate Professor Dr Madeline Berma, who hails from Sarawak. to study education