MOE retains 12 teaching periods for Bahasa Melayu, Chinese and Tamil

THE Education Ministry has decided against reducing teaching hours for Bahasa Melayu, Chinese and Tamil under the 2027 School Curriculum (KP2027), retaining the existing allocation of 12 periods a week for each language.

The decision follows consultations with stakeholders over the proposed changes to language teaching hours, with the ministry saying it had considered the views and recommendations put forward during the discussions.

Under the revised arrangement, Bahasa Melayu will continue to receive 12 weekly periods in national schools (SK), while Chinese and Tamil will retain the same allocation in national-type Chinese schools (SJKC) and national-type Tamil schools (SJKT) respectively.

In a statement today, the ministry said the allocation would remain unchanged, ensuring that teaching time for the three languages would not be reduced under KP2027.

“Meeting the learning needs of pupils across all school streams remained a priority in the country’s curriculum reforms,” the ministry stressed.

Former deputy education minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan welcomed the decision, saying it would bring relief to thousands of teachers, parents, parent-teacher associations and pupils.

He credited MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan for raising the issue with Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Kamalanathan said Saravanan had also proposed incorporating Character Building into Moral Education instead of reducing Tamil language teaching hours, giving the ministry an alternative to address both areas without compromising Tamil language instruction.

“Good governance is not about never proposing change. It is about listening when the community speaks, and having the courage to correct course,” he said in a statement today.

Kamalanathan, who previously served as deputy education minister, said curriculum reform should strengthen rather than undermine mother tongue education.

“Tamil is not an extra subject. It is the soul of SJK(T), the foundation of our heritage, identity and values,” he said.

He said the decision would allow stakeholders to work towards strengthening Tamil language education and Character Building without sacrificing one for the other, while urging all parties to continue working together in the interests of pupils. - November 6, 2026