<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail-page-header-wrapper" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin-bottom:18px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:14px"><h1 class="gmail-page-header" style="box-sizing:border-box;font-size:24px;margin:0px;font-family:Merriweather,serif;line-height:1.1;color:inherit;padding-bottom:28px;border-bottom:1px solid rgb(191,191,191);padding-top:14px"><div class="gmail-ph-wrapper" style="box-sizing:border-box">Thank you, everyone</div><div class="gmail-ins-share-container gmail-ins-show" style="box-sizing:border-box;opacity:1"><a class="gmail-ins-share gmail-ins-whatsapp gmail-resp-sharing-button__link" href="https://web.whatsapp.com/send?text=Thank%20you,%20everyone%20https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2019/05/488145/thank-you-everyone" target="_blank" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:url("https://assets.nst.com.my/sites/all/themes/custom/nst_v2/images/icon-whatsapp.png") 50% 50%/100% no-repeat;color:rgb(229,75,67);text-decoration-line:none;display:block;height:35px;width:35px;border-radius:50%;margin-bottom:10px"></a><a class="gmail-ins-share gmail-ins-facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2019/05/488145/thank-you-everyone" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:url("https://assets.nst.com.my/sites/all/themes/custom/nst_v2/images/icon-fb.png") 50% 50%/100% no-repeat;color:rgb(229,75,67);text-decoration-line:none;display:block;height:35px;width:35px;border-radius:50%;margin-bottom:10px"></a><a class="gmail-ins-share gmail-ins-twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Thank%20you,%20everyone&url=https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2019/05/488145/thank-you-everyone" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:url("https://assets.nst.com.my/sites/all/themes/custom/nst_v2/images/icon-twitter.png") 50% 50%/100% no-repeat;color:rgb(229,75,67);text-decoration-line:none;display:block;height:35px;width:35px;border-radius:50%;margin-bottom:10px"></a><div class="gmail-sp-share-more" style="box-sizing:border-box;height:35px;width:35px;border-radius:50%"><a class="gmail-fab gmail-no gmail-ins-email" href="mailto:?&subject=Thank%20you,%20everyone" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:url("https://assets.nst.com.my/sites/all/themes/custom/nst_v2/images/icon-mail.png") 50% 50%/100% no-repeat;color:rgb(229,75,67);text-decoration-line:none;height:35px;width:35px;border-radius:50%;opacity:0;display:block"></a><a class="gmail-fab gmail-no gmail-ins-pinterest" href="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2019/05/488145/thank-you-everyone&media=https://assets.nst.com.my/images/articles/14nt01sekolah_1557755926.jpg" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:url("https://assets.nst.com.my/sites/all/themes/custom/nst_v2/images/icon-pinterest.png") 50% 50%/100% no-repeat;color:rgb(229,75,67);text-decoration-line:none;height:35px;width:35px;border-radius:50%;opacity:0;display:block"></a><a class="gmail-fab gmail-no gmail-ins-linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2019/05/488145/thank-you-everyone&title=Thank%20you,%20everyone" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:url("https://assets.nst.com.my/sites/all/themes/custom/nst_v2/images/icon-linkedin.png") 50% 50%/118% no-repeat;color:rgb(229,75,67);text-decoration-line:none;height:35px;width:35px;border-radius:50%;opacity:0;display:block"></a><a class="gmail-fab gmail-no gmail-ins-googleplus" href="https://plus.google.com/share?url=https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2019/05/488145/thank-you-everyone" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:url("https://assets.nst.com.my/sites/all/themes/custom/nst_v2/images/icon-gplus.png") 50% 50%/100% no-repeat;color:rgb(229,75,67);text-decoration-line:none;height:35px;width:35px;border-radius:50%;opacity:0;display:block"></a></div></div></h1></div><div class="gmail-region gmail-region-content-header" style="box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:14px"><div class="gmail-block-content" style="box-sizing:border-box"><div id="gmail-div-gpt-ad-1397703721874-0" style="box-sizing:border-box;width:728px;height:90px;margin:16px auto 0px"><div id="gmail-google_ads_iframe_/1009103/NST_728x90_0__container__" style="box-sizing:border-box;border:0pt none"></div></div></div><div class="gmail-block-content" style="box-sizing:border-box"><div class="gmail-view gmail-view-article-gallery gmail-view-id-article_gallery gmail-view-display-id-article_gallery gmail-view-dom-id-d583a162ff1984e688c5dccad5eae148" style="box-sizing:border-box"><div class="gmail-view-content" style="box-sizing:border-box"><div class="gmail-views-row gmail-views-row-1" style="box-sizing:border-box"><div class="gmail-views-row-in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primary focus. We acknowledge that teachers are the real heroic agents of change whose plight cannot be ignored. We are taking a two-pronged approach on this.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">FIRST</strong>, in the interest of teachers’ welfare, the MOE is holding consultation with stakeholders to draw up a standard operating procedure to ensure teachers’ safety and wellbeing when taking students off-campus.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">The MOE is also beefing up the roles and functions of the Inspection and Quality Assurance Board to boost teaching and provide better learning experience for students.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">SECOND</strong>, we recognise that our teachers are bogged down with various duties. Starting this year, we have introduced five initiatives to reduce the teachers’ burden. Among others, these initiatives seek to eliminate overlaps and redundancies so that teachers can focus on teaching and learning, thereby increasing classroom interaction or facetime, which is a critical element in education and talent development.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">We are also looking at several long-term solutions to tackle more complex issues which require revising the existing rules and policies, upgrading IT facilities and infrastructure. This includes the working hours for teachers, Internet penetration in schools, information system integration, administration and implementation at schools and teachers’ allocation.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">PILLAR 3: Students at the Core</strong></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">At the core of education is, of course, the students. Our third pillar is to give full attention to them. Examinations during the first phase of primary education (standards 1-3) have been abolished.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">We want pupils to look forward to going to school and to have inquisitive minds. They must be able to learn without being pressured or forced.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">We want fun learning to facilitate better knowledge absorption among pupils. This is part of our aggressive push towards a new paradigm of pupil-centred learning.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">For children who are born to Malaysian parents, but who do not have the proper documents, they now can attend school. Some 2,635 children have enrolled since the beginning of this year under this policy.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">Our principles are clear — education is the right of every child regardless of who they are or where they come from. Previously, upon being denied their rights to education, children in this group would often be out on the streets. Education would be able to save them from falling prey to crime and social ills.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">This is in line with the ministry’s zero-dropout policy — <em style="box-sizing:border-box">Program Sifar Murid Cicir</em> — a programme where no child is left behind.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">Under this programme, 26.1 per cent or 262 students at secondary level have returned to schools.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">Pillar 4: Commitment to Dilapidated Schools</strong></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">We must also strive to future-proof our education, especially in meeting the demands of the 4th Industrial Revolution. Towards this, MOE has pledged to always invest in our most basic infrastructure and facilities, all of which are vital for our children’s decent education.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">The fourth pillar, therefore, is our biggest commitment today; to address the issue of dilapidated schools, something that I have personally witnessed on the ground. I have set up a dashboard in my office so that I can always get updates on this.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">Of the 394 dilapidated schools, 301 have been refurbished and obtained the certificate of practical completion while 93 are in the process.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">PILLAR 5: Full Attention to Special Needs Children</strong></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">Our fifth focus requires special and frequent attention. Children who are disabled or with special needs will not be deprived of education.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">In January, we had 1,486 special needs children who registered with us manually at schools, having missed the opportunity to do so online. On April 8, the number rose to 10,948. This is more than a 10-fold increase and is a huge achievement.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">Those with disabilities can also continue their studies in public universities. Public universities are required to implement disabled-friendly policies on campuses. This will also be rolled out at private universities nationwide.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">PILLAR 6: The Competence of Higher Education Institutions</strong></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">We have implemented six initiatives under this, which are:</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">Abolishing</strong> Section 15(c) of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, which is the prelude towards totally replacing the act in 2020 with a more comprehensive legislation.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">Campus</strong> elections for the first time were organised by students themselves after over 30 years.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">A students’ union</strong> at each of the universities.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">October 5th</strong> every year shall be Academia Day, something which academics themselves proposed to better recognise contributions that they make towards the academia.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">Higher education institutions</strong> will be completely open for intellectual discourses, forums and debates for scholars and politicians alike.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">RM455.35 million</strong> is allocated towards research.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">To give</strong> students a more prominent voice by allowing them participation in a university’s decision-making.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">The MOE is shifting the university’s trajectory towards becoming a solution or a problem solver for our society. Universities must be a competent social agent that drive social discourse.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">PILLAR 7: More Collaboration in Higher Education Institutions</strong></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">A roadmap specifically for this sector is being drawn up. Private HEIs will, for the first time, be involved in the crafting of policies that include them.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">The MOE is also seeking to further strengthen efforts to internationalise the higher education sector. Among countries which will be involved are the United Kingdom, Japan, Jordan, France, China, Morocco, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Brunei. MOE is also in the process of signing memorandum of understanding to further collaborate in higher education and to push towards becoming the region’s education hub. We hope to make Malaysia the premier education destination.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">PILLAR 8: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)</strong></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">MOE has convened a TVET Empowerment Committee in June last year. For the first time, we have implemented a harmonised accreditation and quality assurance system which allows for a flexible pathway for TVET article-ships up to level 6 and 7.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">This is also the system that will be used by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and Department of Skills Development (JPK) to accreditise courses offered by public and private TVET institutions within the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF).</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">PILLAR 9: Upholding Language, Culture and Literature</strong></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">The ninth and final pillar is to address issues surrounding language, culture and literature. This is closely related to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), the Malaysian Translation and Books Institute (ITBM), the National Book Council of Malaysia (MBKM) and Kota Buku Incorporated.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">We have so far run the “Sasterawan di Universiti” (Laureates at Universities) programme where poet and laureates are placed at each university. This programme will be expanded to polytechnics, teachers’ training institutes (IPGs) and later at schools. Among others, we seek to make National Laurates more visible and play a bigger role in our society.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">We also would like to make Malaysia a reading nation by 2030. For this purpose, we are running a National Reading Decade campaign with over 36,000 activities planned nationwide.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">The MOE is also in the process of drawing up the National Book Policy and National Literature Policy, as well as revising the National Language Policy to promote language, culture and literature.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px">I believe these nine pillars will be the stepping stone for us to work towards higher achievements. The people have spoken, and their voice shall be our strength and guide.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 10px"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px"><strong style="box-sizing:border-box">The writer is education minister.</strong></p></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+<br><br> Harold F. Schiffman<br><br>Professor Emeritus of <br> Dravidian Linguistics and Culture <br>Dept. of South Asia Studies                     <br>University of Pennsylvania<br>Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305<br><br>Phone:  (215) 898-7475<br>Fax:  (215) 573-2138                                      <br><br>Email:  <a href="mailto:haroldfs@gmail.com" target="_blank">haroldfs@gmail.com</a><br><a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/" target="_blank">http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/</a>    <br><br>-------------------------------------------------</div></div>