Teach For Malaysia backs new education plan
File photo of children lining up to go to their classroom. The government has launched a new master plan to reform Malaysia’s education to be on par with those in developed countries by 2025.KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — Education outreach initiative Teach for Malaysia has come out in support of the new education blueprint but noted that implementation will be key.
Teach for Malaysia co-founder and managing director Dzameer Dzulkifli said that based on the speeches given by both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy, the blueprint appeared to be an “ambitious plan”.
“Implementation will be key, as it will surely be difficult since it addresses 10,000 schools,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
Dzameer lauded the decision for greater autonomy to be granted to districts as this would allow them to address local needs.
“We look forward to supporting the government in their undertaking, especially playing a supporting role in developing the quality of teachers and also the placement of high-performing teachers in rural schools,” he said.
The NGO chief added that the success of the blueprint would depend on how much society buys into it.
RAM Ratings chief economist Yeah Kim Leng shared Dzameer’s views on the “comprehensive” blueprint which he said has the right objectives and intentions.
“The key success factor would be the effectiveness of implementation and whether we can sustain the reforms,” Yeah told The Malaysian Insider.
He noted that the blueprint has “already charted out some key outcomes”, saying that there needs to be a “monitoring mechanism” to mark the progress of reforms.
Yeah also pointed to the need for an “integrated body” or taskforce comprising officers from the different ministries involved as well as those from the private sector and parent-teacher associations.
The new master plan launched yesterday is an attempt by the Najib administration to reform Malaysia’s education to be on par with those in developed countries by 2025 by giving local authorities more autonomy, recruiting more qualified trainee teachers and an emphasis on thinking skills.
The prime minister stressed at the launch of the blueprint that nobody has a monopoly on knowledge and the era of “government knows best” was over.
“I invite all Malaysians to give their input on the plan,” he said.
The education master plan report is available for free from the Ministry of Education website.
