No child’s play: inculcate financial literacy, geopolitics in pupils, ex-education DG says

SHAH ALAM – Among the concepts Standard 1 and 2 pupils should know are assets and liabilities, Nato, the cabinet, royal institution and Asean, said former education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom.

While the primary education syllabus and curriculum is challenging, he urged the public, particularly parents, to continue to trust the Education Ministry’s credibility.

“But basically, the kids have to know about assets, liabilities, stocks, Nato, the cabinet, the king’s institution, Asean. Even if it looks difficult for Standard 1 and 2, they are actually used to hearing it, for example, Asean is always discussed in the news. 

“The concept looks challenging but it will offer value and enthusiasm to learn, and that’s what we want.”

Alimuddin added that the ministry has a department for creating educational programmes. 

He said this during a Sinar Harian video segment on primary education aired yesterday. 

According to Alimuddin, the current school curriculum is based on the Malaysian Education Development Plan 2013-2025. 

“There needs to be a shift in the way we teach. Among the topics that are highlighted are climate change, the environment, and sustainability. This includes topics on economic growth, environmental protection, and social needs.

“There has been a shift in the world, and we must adapt. One of the major education reform initiatives that is being implemented is called Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century.”

Meanwhile, other exams and assessments are ongoing even though the UPSR (Standard 6) and PT3 (Form 3) exams were scrapped, he said.

“Conventional monthly assessments, midterms, and finals are used to determine what the students have learned. It is the responsibility of the school and parents to help the students even if they get low grades.” 

He said that merit-based scholarships are available to deserving students and should not be viewed as a prerequisite to academic success. 

 Also featured in the programme were children intelligence experts Noor Aishah Rosli and senior lecturer at the UKM Education Diversity Study Centre Anuar Ahmad. – The Vibes, October 29, 2022