Rafidah calls for end to education ‘political football’

Timothy Achariam Timothy Achariam Updated 6 years ago · Published on 29 Jun 2019 7:16PM · 2 Comments

Former minister Rafidah Aziz speaks at Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, today, regarding the future of Malaysian education. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 29, 2019.

NATIONAL education should not be politicised, instead effort should be focused on its development to preserve the interests of present and future generations, former minister Rafidah Aziz has warned.

“Do not make it a political football, education is about the future of the country and the interests of present and future generations,” she told the media today during ‘The current state of Malaysia’s education system and the way forward’ forum at Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, where she was the keynote speaker.

Rafidah said that it was incumbent on all parties to find ways to use the education system to unite people.

“Let’s stop any elements that divide, find ways to unify people,” she said.

She said that politicising education inhibited change and politicians needed to serve the people, not themselves.

“Politicising education inhibits change… Instead of looking out for the benefit of the young, they (politicians) are looking out for themselves, especially for the vote,” she said, adding that policies needed to stay away from past mistakes and be future proof.

“We must have an education policy that is flexible and can change with the times, but the basic principles can remain intact.”

Rafidah said that education had been made political by the previous government for 61 years, so it was not right to blame the current government for this.

“This has been going on for decades, decades of rot and inaction.”

She said the government need to ramp up Sekolah Kebangsaan standards by making its structure correct and up to date. – June 29, 2019.

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Comments

  • Rafidah is right. However there has to be a complete overhaul. English has to be prioritised, more time for maths and science, less emphasis on religious/moral studies, correcting the fake history being taught now, much more non-Mslay teachers, disinfect and sanitize the district education offices and reduce Malay influence on education policies. I know its all a pipe dream but who knows?

    Posted 6 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • How about appointing her as a Senator and appoint her as our Education Minister, I think she will set the right footing to our education system sending a clear message to our administrators who are lost not because of their doing but the change of direction given to them every now and then. She still has it and its a waste if its not put to good use as we certainly need one after all she was a economics lecturer before call upon to enter politics by the late Tun Razak the father of we all know who.

    Posted 6 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply