NUTP secretary-general Fouzi Singon said it is the ministry’s responsibility to determine Malaysia’s curriculum needs and the framework required by students nationwide.
“The curriculum drafting committee should involve all interested parties, especially those who teach in classrooms. The committee also needs to be independent and made up of people who have a lot of experience in education.
“The suggestions and complaints of grassroots and stakeholders must be taken into account (by the ministry),” he told FMT.
Fouzi warned the ministry against engaging and getting the feedback of stakeholders “just for the sake of it” without incorporating their views, describing it as “a farce to blind the eyes of the people”.
He added that Malaysians across the country were watching and eagerly waiting for the best possible improvements to the national curriculum.
“Whether or not the current curriculum is appropriate should be based on whether it can prepare students for academic needs and future employment and industry needs,” he said.
Last week, a campaign called #UbahSegera was launched by education activists, who encouraged netizens to flood the education ministry’s Facebook page with the hashtag.
The campaign arose from frustration with the current national curriculum, which is said to be overly difficult for students, and the purportedly confusing classroom assessment system.
It gained traction after a viral video showed a young girl crying because she could not read despite attending school, highlighting dissatisfaction with the ministry’s perceived inaction on long-standing education issues.
Fouzi urged the ministry to ensure that the new curriculum would spur the interest of students in the subjects they are taught, rather than killing it.
“The students’ enjoyment of learning needs to flourish and continue so that it remains something that’s interesting and fun to them.
“They should not be burdened by subjects that are overly difficult, which would kill their interest to continue learning,” he said.
According to Fouzi, this is what has been happening with English, Bahasa Melayu, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, with many students finding these subjects difficult and boring, leading them to perform poorly in tests and examinations.
He said the new curriculum must keep abreast of technological developments, while fostering an appreciation for Malaysian values and culture among children.