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Exciting change underway for Malaysian public schools

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Dec 21, 2016 The Education Ministry is implementing a new curriculum in secondary schools and revising the current one in primary schools.(Image via: The Star Online) Exciting times lie ahead for the Education Ministry as they await 2017 with much anticipation. It is the year that sees the implementation of the new Standard Curriculum for Secondary Schools (KSSM) for Form One students and a revised Primary School Standard Curriculum (KSSR) for Year One pupils.The first cohort of KSSR began in 2011 starting with Year One pupils.The Education Ministry's head for the policy and research sector, Naza Idris Saadon said the ministry will now do a review of the the first cycle of KSSR in 2017 to see its effectiveness concurrent with the implementation of the KSSM.He added in line with the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025, several changes must be made to the national curriculum in order to produce students who are resilient, curious, innovative and able to communicate well.What is KSSR and KSSM ?KSSR (Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah) and KSSM (Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Menengah), has one new word in it ‘Standard’. In this new curriculum, there are set standards of learning that our children have to achieve at the different levels of their schooling. This means that when our children complete a particular level of schooling, they are expected to have achieved a preset standard of knowledge, skills and values. At specific times at each level these learning standards will be measured to ensure that no child gets left behind. If a child fails to meet the required standard, the teacher is required to do more revision activities with the child until he or she eventually achieves the required standard.The new curriculum has also been designed to go beyond acquiring communication skills, self-development and the child’s immediate environment as in the KBSR and KBSM (previous curriculum). It is designed to enhance and embrace the use of science and technology, develop values, understand humanitarian issues and also focus on the child’s physical and aesthetical development. Although the KBSR and KBSM focused on holistic learning, the current curriculum seeks to go beyond this. The KSSR  and KSSM curriculum uses what is known as a modular-based system.

Subjects included in KSSR

The ministry has tweaked certain subjects since its introduction in 2011. For parents whose kids will be starting standard one in 2017 here's what to expect in terms of subjects your child will be learning in Standard One in 2017 under the KSSR Review.KSSR Review 2017 Subjects for lower primary 

Subjects included in KSSM 

Teacher and parents can download the DSKP (Dokumen Standard Kurikulum dan Pentaksiran) for Form 1 students in the following links provided below1.   http://kurikulumdskp.blogspot.my/2016/04/dokumen-standard-kurikulum-dan.html2.  http://www.cikguhailmi.com/2016/08/dskp-dokumen-standard-kurikulum-dan-pentaksiran-kssmBoth websites show there are two news subjects that were previously not under the KBSM; "Reka Bentuk dan Teknologi" and "Asas Sains Komputer". * In addition, from January next year, Computational Thinking Skills will be integrated into the curriculum for Standard One, Form One and Form Four students. Naza Idris emphasised that the content taught today has to change in accordance, by including new information and content into the subject especially for those that revolve around technology.Other changes include the organisation and management of the curriculum, changes in the pedagogy aspect of teaching and learning and in the allocation of time for each subject. In the past, teachers were required to complete a certain amount of minutes in a week for a subject. Now, it will be completed in minimum hours per year. This is a really exciting time for Malaysian national schools and the start of bigger and better things to come.