Do away with Moral Studies, parents group tells government

(Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: A parents group has urged the government to do away with the Moral Studies subject in schools, saying “being moral” is about more than memorising definitions to pass exams.

The Melaka Action Group for Parents suggested that the subject be replaced with a “common class” on issues such as human rights, preserving the environment, caring for the needy, and the “evils” of corruption.

Its chairman Mak Chee Kin said teaching students to avoid corruption, in particular, would be “far more useful in educating our children to be morally upright people”.

The issue was sparked by lawyer Lim Wei Jiet, who questioned the subject’s relevance in a Twitter post and asked why the government had made no move to abolish it.

Speaking to FMT, Lim acknowledged that Pakatan Harapan (PH) had not promised to shelf the subject but said this should be done nonetheless.

Parent Action Group for Education secretary Tunku Munawirah Putra said Moral Studies could not be removed from national schools as it is listed as a core subject for both primary and secondary levels in the Education Act 1996.

But Lim said the act should then be reviewed “or, at the very least, completely reform the Moral Studies syllabus”.

Moral Studies is a compulsory SPM subject for non-Malay students. Exact word-for-word definitions are required, with students often told to memorise keywords.

Recent years have seen proposals for the subject to be replaced with one that would address social behavioural issues like cybersex, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health, bullying and gangsterism.

National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Harry Tan said there has been a mixed reaction from teachers to the issue.

“But generally, they don’t want the subject removed.”

He agreed that Moral Studies should be made more relevant to the times, despite remarks from the deputy education minister last year that changes are periodically implemented.

Chong Sin Woon, who held the post at the time, reportedly said that Moral Studies is able to produce principled and patriotic students who can communicate and work as a team.

He also said the subject is still in line with the requirements of 21st-century curriculum from Standard One to Form Five. - FMT