Change in education system requires big leap in policies, says director
KUCHING: The nation’s aspirations to implement an education system which is competitive and excellent requires a big leap in terms of policies, implementation and performance evaluation.
As it is now, the education system is seen to be competitive globally and the existing approach will experience a revolution change to face the economic challenges and the job market in the 21st century, said Sarawak Education Depar tment di rector Dr Azhar Ahmad.
He quoted an expert in creative education, Sir Ken Robertson, who had challenged the education system and delivery so that it is able to foster creativity and innovation and apply various kinds of intelligence, knowledge and skills among students.
Robertson also suggested that all stakeholders develop efforts to make education transformation parallel with globalisation and modern technology, as reports in the World Economic Forum 2016 had shown a big gap between knowledge and skills which must be acquired according to the trends of the industries.
“The report outlined three skills groups that must be dominated by students in this 21st century. The first - basic literacy in information technology ( IT) and communications, numeracy, finance, scientific, culture and civic awareness.
“Second is competency like creativity, communications, collaborations and critical thinking. Thirdly, personality qual ity which covers init iat ive, leadership, sensitivity towards the
The report outlined three skills groups that must be dominated by students in this 21st century. The first - basic literacy in information technology (IT) and communications, numeracy, finance, scientific, culture and civic awareness. Dr Azhar Ahmad, Sarawak Education Department director
social environment and culture,” Azhar said.
Azhar was speaking at the Sarawak Educat ion Depar tment Service Excellence Awards 2018 (APC 2018) at the Sarawak Education Department auditorium here yesterday.
Thus, he said, the country’s education emphasised on understanding of world class quality “so that we will be able to deliver the successful transformation of education delivery”.
“We at the department level also carry these responsibilities to support the aspirations through education transformations which are outlined by the Malaysian Education Development Plan 2013-2015 (PPPM), which is entering its Second Plan ( 2016-2020).
“In this context, the roadmap for the success of any initiative holistically under PPPM becomes the backbone to realise the government’s efforts to prepare the new generations to be able to compete and boost the nation’s development success in the future,” he said.
Azhar congratulated all Sarawak educators for their teamwork that had brought the state Education Department much success in academic performance and co- curricular activities.
He noted that there had been an increase in the number of students who achieved excellent results in their SPM examinations, quoting the result for 2017 which showed an improvement of 0.19 percent to 83.21 per cent from 83.02 per cent in 2016.
“The State Average Rate (GPN - Gred Purata Negeri) has been better. In 2016, the GPN was 5.34 and in 2017 it was 5.17,” he said.
As for the UPSR, the achievements in 2018 were as good as shown by the reduction in the number of candidates obtaining ‘ E’ in all of their subjects in both national schools and national-type schools, he added.
“I believe that i f this teamwork continues, Sarawak can be on par with other states in Malaysia,” he said.
Meanwhile, 75 educators received the APC Award and two who had served the department more than 20 years received the Appreciation Certificate.
The APC award is an award given by the government to government servants who have shown excellence in their work apart from the acknowledgement to services they have rendered.
Among those present was Sarawak Education Department deputy director Abang Mat Ali Abang Masagus.