Education sector in crisis, needs urgent reforms - Syed Saddiq

 

PARLIAMENT | Weaknesses in the current education system have caused Malay parents from middle-class families to enrol their children in private or international schools at a significantly higher cost, according to Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

In his debate of the royal address, the Muar MP said the shifting trend was a sign that the education sector is in crisis and requires urgent reforms.

“In the past, there were often false fears raised over how children from Chinese and Indian families were unpatriotic and their families did not want them to attend national schools.

“But the reality today is that Malay middle-class families are willing to spend a quarter of their monthly income to send their children to private or international schools,” he said.

“What were the reasons that they gave? They said teachers at national schools face a heavy burden with clerical duties, administrative tasks, juggling two or three roles.

“The burden they carry is to the extent of temporarily putting aside their main duties as teachers, that is to teach,” said Syed Saddiq.

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman

He said parents are also increasingly concerned over the standard of the national syllabus in comparison to private education, a disparity that if left unaddressed could ultimately hamper efforts to reduce the poverty gap.

“That is why we need to have the moral and political courage to overhaul our education system,” he added.

Overall, Syed Saddiq said up to 20 percent of the national expenditure is typically allocated to the education sector, a higher figure when compared to neighbouring Singapore and Japan.

However, he pointed out a mismatch in the outcome, with both Singapore and Japan outranking Malaysia on the global Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) used to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school pupils’ scholastic performance in mathematics, science, and reading.

Separately, the Education Ministry in a statement noted several issues raised in the royal address.

Among others, the ministry said it would embark on the Digital Education Policy, as well as upgrading schools and other physical infrastructures under its purview. - Mkini