FORM Six education should not be too bound by school rules but should give some space for students to interact, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

He said the environment in Form Six needs to be changed as it is more like matriculation.

“I will bring it up with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek so that Form Six is not treated like school, in the culture and environment. This is because I also went to Form Six,” he said in an interview at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia in Nilai today.

“For Form Six, we need to determine the methods so that the way teachers treat (students) and the environment. More space needs to be given so that the students can interact freely.”

He said many sixth formers had complained about the rules and culture and urged for them to be changed during previous dialogue sessions.

On suggestions to change Form Six curriculum to the semester method, Anwar said the matter should be discussed with education experts as well as teachers and students.

He also urged universities to make changes in knowledge-based curriculums to include digital technology, artificial intelligence and internet of things.

“Change has to be quick and fast. It doesn’t need to wait for the Convention Board of Studies, two-year studies, and be brought to the senate,” he said, adding that world-class universities such as Oxford University, the United Kingdom and Georgetown University, Washington, moved very rapidly in education transformation, based on his teaching experience there.

In addition, he said industrial training was needed so that there was no mismatch and overdependence on old curriculum in order to reduce unemployment rates.

“That’s why Petronas is involved in the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes in Batu Rakit, Kimanis and Pengerang and Proton has taken over TVET in Pekan,” he said.

Anwar also said there was a drop in the national unemployment rate but that did not mean that the problem has been addressed, especially when it involved graduates.

He said investments were needed, along with a strong and stable government with clear policies to create more job opportunities to reduce the pressure of unemployment.

“The way to solve this is, the government needs to find ways to garner investments, for instance, Geely (China’s automotive company – Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd), which would offer 4,000 jobs.

“According to Geely, we have a skilled workforce, just that there are still some deficiencies.

“I have discussed with the higher education minister (Mohamed Khaled Nordin) to find out what these companies need,” he said, adding that the government had requested that additional training be provided to students during their talks with Khazanah Nasional, Permodalan Nasional Bhd and Petronas. – Bernama, June 24, 2023.