KUALA LUMPUR – The Education Ministry (MoE) has been urged to improve or use more effective strategies to reduce the pressure facing students, teachers and parents in implementing home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).
Malaysian Psychiatric Association president Dr Hazli Zakaria said although some of them are now comfortable with PdPR, attention should also be given to those who were still trying to adapt to the system.
He said those who still have problems with the implementation of PdPR needed to be helped.
All quarters, he said, including MoE, should use the opportunities PdPR provides to find solutions towards producing quality students who know how to utilise their knowledge and not just get good results in examinations.
“We have to look at this situation and take advantage of it; try to improve on what we are trying to achieve,” he told Bernama.
Dr Hazli, who is a psychiatrist at Alaminda Specialist Clinic, said among the actions that can be taken is obtaining accurate information on the experiences of those who have employed PdPR so improvements can be made.
“We have to get (the information) from the grassroots, comprising students, parents, teachers, and administrators, and all of them have to provide the information because the data is very useful in improving the quality of learning in the country,” he said.
Apart from that, he said MoE should also take into account the differences between urban and rural schools because each has a different situation, and with accurate information provided by relevant parties, it would make the implementation of PdPR smoother.
He said the policy set by MoE is good, but its implementation should be more specific and targeted to achieve the desired objectives.
“I’m sure the government is doing its best to deliver the best transformation for everyone involved, but to achieve the objectives, it requires a more transparent platform where all parties can share.
“We see this as a way for us to work together rather than to find fault,” he said.
Dr Hazli advised those involved in the implementation of PdPR to not expect only the government to solve their problems, because efforts to improve teaching and learning require the cooperation of all quarters.
MoE, he said, has done its best, and should not be sensitive towards complaints from those who unhappy with the implementation of PdPR.
“MoE has done its best, but some improvements are needed. We have to get feedback. We get those who are less comfortable with the current PdPR method, while those who are skilled at it should be appreciated,” he added.
On July 17 this year, MoE announced that the schooling session via PdPR will continue until August 31 this year after taking into account the current Covid-19 situation and following discussions with the Health Ministry and National Security Council.
MoE has also decided that schools will be opened in stages for physical classes from September 1 after taking into consideration the current vaccination rate in the country.
As of July 16, a total of 253,366 teachers and administrators (61.3%), as well as 10,876 support staff (46.33%) had received at least one dose of the vaccine. – Bernama, July 24, 2021
