Kuala lumpur: The second day of debates on the 13th Malaysia Plan (MP13) in the Dewan Rakyat today was dominated by education reform, with many MPs urging the government to introduce new policies and strengthen the existing education structure for the next five years.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, among the proposals raised was the introduction of a dedicated preschool education Act to streamline the early childhood education system, which is currently managed by government agencies, the private sector, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The proposer, Rodziah Ismail (PH-Ampang), emphasized the need for the Education Ministry (MOE) to review the current framework to systematically coordinate preschools under a single legal framework. She highlighted the involvement of agencies such as KEMAS (Community Development Department) and ABIM (Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement), noting that some NGOs operate without proper oversight.
Meanwhile, Mohd Hasnizan Harun (PN-Hulu Selangor) suggested reinstating the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) examinations to provide students with clear direction and defined goals. He expressed concerns that the absence of such assessment systems led to claims of students losing direction and motivation, making it challenging for parents and teachers to gauge performance levels.
Other MPs, including Teresa Kok Suh Sim (PH-Seputeh), Datuk Ahmad Saad @ Yahaya (PN-Pokok Sena), and Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Sri Gading), also raised issues concerning the education sector. Sabah and Sarawak representatives, like Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS-Sri Aman), emphasized bridging the education gap between regions and called for more fully residential schools and vocational colleges in rural areas. Doris Sophia cited her constituency, Sri Aman, as lacking a fully residential school, crucial for providing rural students with opportunities on par with other areas.
Bullying in fully residential schools received sharp scrutiny, with MPs voicing concerns over student safety. Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) urged the MOE to adopt new approaches to tackle the growing problem of bullying, especially in fully residential institutions. He highlighted the alarming nature of such incidents, which compromise student safety and leave many parents traumatized and fearful of sending their children to these schools.
On a related note, MPs, including Datuk Verdon Bahanda (Ind-Kudat) and Rushdan Rusmi (PN-Padang Besar), extended condolences to the family of Form One student the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, who died on July 16 in a case linked to alleged bullying.