Kota Kinabalu: The Madani Government’s educational reform policies are working to improve the reading, writing and counting (3M) illiteracies which caused some 10,177 students to miss out on their SPM last year.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid stated this during the weekend, hinting towards the reintroduction of UPSR and PMR exams.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek meanwhile said the ongoing commitment through six agendas, namely empowering TVET, STEM, digital, the use of English and preschools to improve the country’s education had been announced.
“We are also looking into the aspects of preparing a new education development plan as the existing one ends in 2025.
“The same goes for the implementation of a new curriculum in 2027 which begins a year sooner in 2026 for preschoolers.
“I think on improvements, the reformation plan is working, but if there are wishes (to reintroduce UPSR and PMR) it can be brought to further discussion,” she said.
Fadhlina said the current intervention efforts through the ongoing commitment identified 120,000 primary school pupils who had not grasped the 3M.
She said this during her visit to Henry Gurney School, divided into 24 male and 10 female students, at the Kota Kinabalu Central Prisons in Kepayan on Monday.
She said they could be further empowered by setting a higher education pathway.
“There are students here who have passed the age for SPM but are taking it and those who are retaking it for better grades.
“This shows their confidence in our education system and so we want to ensure their results are improved within a short time frame for bigger chances in the TVET field.
We don’t even have to wait until next year, we can do it now with commitment and cooperation,” she added.
