No more arts, science streams for Form Four
Published on: Wednesday, November 20, 2019
KUALA LUMPUR: The arts and science streams for Form Four will be scrapped next year.
Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching (pic) said the government would replace it with more relevant subjects, including electives.
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She said the arts and science streams would be replaced with Stream (Science, Technology, Reading, Arts, Music) education.
She said a letter on the changes had been sent out to secondary schools nationwide.
“The letter/circular contains advice to schools across the country on how to encourage, evaluate and explain about the new subjects available from next year.
“This (the abolition of arts and science for Form 4 students) needs to be done according to the capabilities, availability, suitability (facilities/infrastructure), as well as considerations of each school,” she said at the Parliament lobby.
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Streaming is the practice of sorting students into different “study path/direction” based on their intellectual capability and interest.
The streaming segregation at schools was based on the PT3 results. Students go into the Arts stream, choosing subjects like Accounting, Commerce, Economics, and Arts, or the Science stream, opting for subjects such as Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Additional Mathematics on top of the core subjects taught in schools.
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However, earlier this year, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik had proposed that a new educational approach had to be adopted by introducing more practical and career relevant subjects, matching students’ talents.
“We want schools to encourage students to choose a path or stream which they are keen on, so that they will excel in that subject.
“In the letter/circular we also explained on how the school can attract and separate its students accordingly without misleading them,” Teo added.
The study paths that Form Four students can choose include engineering, science, maths, living skills, technical studies and a few other options which are still in development stage.
“Students can also pick up to five elective subjects and mix between the subjects in this new system.”
Meanwhile, touching on the growing number of local students seeking education at international schools, Teo said it was up to the parents to decide.
“The decision to send a children to private or international school lies with a child’s parent.
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