Ministry to go ahead with khat writing in schools

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 2 Aug 2019 8:53PM · 10 Comments

The Education Ministry says it is important to learn khat writing as it is closely tied to Bahasa Malaysia, and is also found on the national and state emblems, as well as the ringgit. – EPA pic, August 2, 2019.

THE Education Ministry will go ahead with the introduction of khat script in the Year 4 Bahasa Malaysia syllabus, set to be implemented next year.

It said in a statement today that it would look into ways to simplify the teaching and learning process of the calligraphic art so as not burden pupils and teachers.

It added that feedback from various quarters on the move had been taken into account.

“The plan to introduce khat writing in the syllabus was made after the curriculum was reviewed in 2014. Engagements were made with linguistic experts and academics,” it said.

“The aim is to instil the values of the Malay language and national identity with the introduction of khat.”

The ministry said it was important to learn khat writing as it is closely tied to the national language.

The script is also found on the national and state emblems, as well as the ringgit.

“The ministry is committed to building a Malaysia that has a deep understanding and knowledge of its national heritage.”

The introduction of the Malay-Arabic calligraphic writing subject has seen opposition from various quarters. 

Some argued it was not necessary to learn as part of language studies, while others highlighted its supposed religious connotations. – August 2, 2019.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • Whatever is introduced, someone else will excel...

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Just don't understand what is in the stupid the black shoe minister mind!
    It's a dying form of taugeh writing that even the Malays themselves may find it difficult and useless to learn.
    It's not going to bring any benefit to the student. After a few years of force learning the student just throw it away anyway. Who cares!

    Posted 6 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

    • he need to change something right? what else to change with his limited brain. add khat lah. tq TUN for turning around our education system before you kick the buckey

      Posted 6 years ago by . . · Reply

  • Insidious as it gets

    Posted 6 years ago by Watch Dog · Reply

  • These days we hardly use a pen to write, let alone a bamboo to scribe...

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • The ministry is committed to building a Malaysia that has a deep understanding and knowledge of its national heritage.

    Oh pleaazze spare us the humor ... nobody's buyin the bull. Malaysian national heritage is more than any one language... but I bet you wouldn't 'force' students to learn Mandarin, Tamil or Punjabi...

    You haven't even come out with a plan to sort out the unemployable of local grads ... and practically most of them still could not construct a proper sentence in English. And this is the 21st century ..

    Bravo to Mazlee. Next to Mahathir, he is doing all he can to help PH lose support.

    Posted 6 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • In the early 1990s, for a few years I served as my U's representative in the national committee to promote Jawi Scripts in Malaysia. The only proposal that was kicked up and down and eventually dropped was to include the road names in Jawi on the signboards. Before there was a Jawi Newspaper published by Utusan that stopped publication because of very few buyers or readers. The Jawi script did not keep up with development in the Bahasa Malaysia that Dewan Bahasa was involved in. With Khat writing, you require a bottle of ink. Just imagine the mess on the learning table, school uniforms. bags and walls.

    Posted 6 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply

  • Tis clearly sums up to that the education ministry is NOT INTERESTED IN IMPROVING THE EDUCATION SYSTEM . All Wayang Kulit Only

    Posted 6 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • Parents can teach their children a new subject called "Civil Disobedience". Since khat is not examinable for now, then children should just sit quietly in class when khat is being taught, and refuse to participate or submit any exercises or homework.

    Posted 6 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • What a brilliant move! In one bold move, our government has given our children a skill that will secure their future. What employer doesnt want to hire people who can write beautiful khat?

    Posted 6 years ago by Arthur Leong · Reply