ALREADY DISASTROUS RESULTS, Umno wants Education blueprint implemented

LAUDING the implementation of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, delegates at the 67th  Umno general assembly yesterday called for consistency in its execution to avoid mix-ups.

Debating the motion on education on the last day of the assembly, Youth representative Armizan Mohd Ali hoped the implementation of the blueprint would proceed as planned.

"Too many plans will only confuse the stakeholders, especially teachers. The government must listen to what they have to say since they are responsible for its implementation. If you don't listen to the feedback, the backlash will be greater."

He said Umno Youth had made several recommendations, including empowering the national schools so that the new generation would excel in education and develop a strong personality.

Armizan, who is Papar division Youth chief, said the recommendations should be among the main focus in the national education system, although they were not underlined in the blueprint.

"Empowering national schools does not mean that we are sidelining or stopping the development of other schools.

"The national school is a good platform to unite all the races and empowering is a means of strengthening national unity and integration through education."

He said attractive elements could be introduced at national schools so that parents, regardless of race and background, would choose national schools for their children. He also urged for more efforts to include the teaching of Mandarin and Tamil languages in national schools.

On the party president's call to establish an Islamic Community College, Armizan said this was in line with Islamic teachings and proposed that tahfiz education be included in the syllabus.

Jerantut Umno division chief Ahmad Nazlan Idris said a special body should be set up to produce more Bumiputera high-achievers from local varsities.

"This must be done to carry on the Bumiputera legacy of smart and all-rounded leaders of the future."

Kelantan representative Ahmad Termizi Musa called on the Federal Government to set up more religious schools, particularly in opposition-run states like Kelantan.

"Many parents want to send their children to schools where they can get both religious and academic education and there are only six government religious schools in Kelantan, which can accommodate only 1,210 students. The applications to enrol in these schools are more than 5,000 annually."

Dr Mohd Nizar Zakaria, the Parit Umno division vice-chief, said Perak welcomed the move to make teaching a profession of choice.

"However, we call on the government to address issues in the blueprint.

"Failure to do so will cause dissatisfaction among those concerned, and they will vent their frustration not only at the government, but also at Barisan Nasional."

Sabah representative Datuk Arifin Mohd Arif urged the Federal Government to lend support to upgrade the education system in the state by establishing an Islamic Studies Faculty in Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

"This has never been done but I think it is timely to set up such a faculty here." - NST