MOE “disconnected” from the real challenges in country’s education system, says MCA in school necktie debate

 

AN MCA Youth leader has slammed the recent announcement by the Education Ministry (MOE) that  students will no longer be required to wear neckties to school from next year.

Describing the announcement as “concerning”, the youth wing’s Melaka chapter chief Tee Tian Leng said the move to make school neckties optional reflects a serious misalignment in the ministry’s policy-making priorities.

“Despite having spent years in government, the current MOE continues to focus on adjustments related to attire and outward appearance while more critical reforms involving curriculum content, teaching structures and overall educational direction remains sidelined,” he lamented.

“The direction the MOE is pursuing is clearly disconnected from the real challenges faced by the people in today’s education system.”

The decision was conveyed in a circular dated Dec 17 which was signed by education director-general Mohd Azam Ahmad, according to a report in BuletinTV3 on Tuesday (Dec 30).

However, the ministry said wearing a tie would still be allowed if agreed upon by schools and parents, adding that no party is permitted to coerce or place pressure on students regarding the wearing of ties.

Further criticising the announcement, Tee said the policy on neckties being no longer being compulsory for students is a simple and non-controversial announcement that “neither improves student learning outcomes nor meaningfully reduces the financial burden on parents”.

He said more importantly, the announcement does nothing to address the structural issues that have accumulated within the education system itself, reducing such policies and reforms to mere surface-level changes.

“What the MOE truly needs to confront and prioritise are several long-neglected issues, including the dual language programme for Science and Mathematics, which remained inconsistent for years and has failed to provide schools, teachers and parents with a stable and clear direction resulting in confused implementation and negatively affecting learning continuity and student outcomes,” he continued.

“And then there’s the lack of a clear national roadmap for STEM education whereby the current curriculum content remains disconnected from national industrial development, technological transformation, and future employment needs. As a result, students struggle to translate what they learn into real competitive advantage.”

Tee reckoned that the MOE should also address the education system’s outdated curriculum that has failed to keep pace with the modern world, noting that the current curriculum lacks clear outcome benchmarks aligned with international education systems, and students continue to lag behind in critical thinking, digital literacy and interdisciplinary skills.

“In addition, there is also the subject of excessive administrative burdens placed on teachers who are spending large amounts of time on administrative tasks, forms, safety-related responsibilities and other non-educator related procedures,” he said.

“These demands take time away from teaching and student development, directly affecting the quality of education delivered in classrooms.”

According to Tee, genuine education reform should never begin with whether students wear neckties but with clarifying educational direction, stabilising core policies, and respecting professional expertise within the education sector.

“The MOE must reassess its reform priorities, stop relying on symbolic policy adjustments to mask the absence of substantive reform, and put forward education reform plans that genuinely focus on students’ futures and strengthen national competitiveness.” ‒  Focus Malaysia