New curriculum to make learning fun and rewarding

By KAREN CHAPMAN

PUTRAJAYA: Providing an en- joyable and rewarding learning experience for pupils €“ that’s the aim of the new curriculum in primary schools to be introduced in 2010.

Curriculum Development Cen- tre (CDC) director Ali Ab Ghani said a review of the existing primary school integrated curriculum (KBSR) was ongoing to ensure that the objective was achieved.

“We have organised workshops and seminars to get feedback from stakeholders including parents, students, teachers, lecturers in teacher training institutes and non-governmental organisations on the proposed curriculum,” he said in an interview.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said on Thursday that a new curriculum would make learning more holistic and less examination-oriented.

Malaysian Examinations Syn- dicate (MES) director Dr Salbiah Ismail said the aim of having school-based assessment was to focus on the development of the individual as a whole.

“We want to be able to tell parents about their children’s achievements instead of the current emphasis on scoring As in centralised examinations,” she said.

She said pupils would be assessed using several approaches, including psychometric tests as well as achievement in extra-curricular activities and sports.

“We will provide questions for the tests in various subjects. Once the teachers have marked them, the tests will be sent to us for moderation to ensure there is consistency and no discrepancy of marks,” she said when asked about fears of favouritism.

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said it was important to focus on pupils’ multiple intelligences rather than just on academic achievement.

NUTP president Hashim Adnan expressed concern that teachers would have additional responsibilities with school-based assessment.

National Collaborative Parent-Teacher Association of Malaysia president Associate Prof Datuk Mohd Ali Hasan said the introduction of the new curriculum was timely and hoped the ministry would also look into integrating pupils of different races.

The Star Online: 27 September 2008