“The committee is tasked with reviewing the national education philosophy and policy, including improving the educational curriculum and system, from preschool right up to the university level.

“We want education to encompass civic awareness as well as empower science and technology,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat when replying to a question from Ahmad Faizal Azumu (PH-Tambun) on the direction of national education.

He said members of the committee would comprise academicians, politicians, religious experts as well as representatives of NGOs.

Responding to a supplementary question on the measures taken to encourage the use of the English language, without neglecting Bahasa Malaysia, especially among the rural community, he said the ministry would increase the number of English language specialist teachers in the rural areas.

He said other measures included raising the skills of existing English language teachers, inviting retired and graduate teachers to be involved in the efforts to boost the use of the language, and taking in trained teachers from overseas for the purpose.