Zero remove class target for Chinese, Tamil school students

The Education Ministry is targeting for all students at Chinese and Tamil national-type schools, or the SJKC and SJKT, to achieve the stipulated standard of mastery of Bahasa Malaysia after sitting for their UPSR exam so that they do not have to go to remove classes.

Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon said in order to achieve the goal, all parties should ensure students in the Chinese and Tamil schools or the to pass the minimum level set at primary schools.

"Currently, there are 15 percent of students from national-type schools who have to enter remove classes for a year before continuing their secondary school sessions.

“Students must obtain at least a D for their Bahasa Melayu paper in the UPSR to ensure that they do not have to go to remove classes,” he told reporters in conjunction with the 2018 Teacher Education Institute Innovation Day celebration at the Teachers Education Institute, Bahasa Melayu Campus in Kuala Lumpur today.

Chong said various efforts would be undertaken to strengthen BM in national-type schools through various approaches, such as the establishment of a special committee run by Chinese education NGOs, to find solutions to the problem.

"The committee known as the Committee to Improve SJKCs BM Standard will discuss and find solutions to help the pupils and the outcome of the discussions will be highlighted, in order to ensure zero remove classes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid (photo) in his inauguration speech at the Innovation Day, said the Teacher Education Institute should be prepared to meet the challenges of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 by providing a more holistic learning system and not only focus on classroom learning alone.

According to Mahdzir, the current education system needs to cater to the fast-changing world in developing an innovative generation from various angles, in line with the latest scientific and technological developments such as using online learning methods

The text of his speech was read out by Chong.

- Bernama