Arts and Science streams to be a thing of the past in 2020: what M’sians are saying

Ever since most Malaysians can remember, the schooling system in the country has decided which subjects students learn based on a streaming system which placed students into classes that taught either science or arts.

Finally, after so many years, the Education Ministry has finally admitted that the system has restricted the potential of school children and resulted in a lot of wasted talent.

“… some parents force their children to pursue certain subjects because it was their dream, not that of their children” – FINALLY… someone’s said it.

Streaming system wasted a lot of talent, says Maszlee https://t.co/KJIZjvsiO1

— Walski in SUPER LIBERAL doses (@walski69) October 15, 2019

“That’s why starting next year, science and philosophy students can take subjects according to their preference. It can be combined.”

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik via Free Malaysia Today

Speaking to the Malaysian community in Frankfurt, Germany last weekend (Oct 13), Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said that the current basis for how a student enters a particular stream is flawed.

The announcement has received mixed reactions from Malaysians. There are some who are opposing the move, and some who believe it is a step in the right direction.

There are also those who have raised concerns about the implementation of a streamless education system.

it is a good move.
cumanya drawing from my experience as cikgu jadual waktu sekolah menengah memang banyak perlu dipertimbangkan.cthnya adakah kita masih tertakluk kepada peruntukan masa minimum setahun kssm? apakah mekanisme eoperasi nk tentukan bil guru sepatutnya?

— NadHF (@nadrah_harith) October 15, 2019

“It’s just that, from my experience as a teacher, the secondary school timetable needs more reconsideration. For example, will we still be subjected to the same amount of teaching hours in the year? And how will the number of teachers be determined?”

agreed.
so in a way, does this also means that students also need to understand earlier what they want to do in the future, in order to plan their subjects combination?

and perhaps there should be a limit to number of subjects taken.

— NadHF (@nadrah_harith) October 16, 2019

The news also had Malaysians thinking about what they might have liked to learn in school if they had the option to choose and shared what subjects they believe should be taught in school in this modern age.

5. History
6. Geography
Secondary:
1. Languages X 4
2. Advanced programming
3. Math (up to calculus)
4. Science (the usual)
5. History
6. Economics
7. Accounting

— Amir Amadeus Hafizi (@amirhimself) October 16, 2019

Pre- school/ kindy: safe touch, basic survival skills (eg: how to cross the road, ride a train, call for emergency etc),

— Tutu kitty (@thatprancingcat) October 16, 2019

Financial Literacy from F1

— Imam Kuda (@napiez) October 16, 2019

If I hv a young kid today…I will teach them to use Word,Excel & Photshop while they are in Primary school.

Also get them their own 3D printer.

And memorise the times table.

Also get them into Cohen,Little Feat and Bowie.

Most of all get them to only wear sky blue.

😂😂😂

— khalidkarim (@khalidkarim) October 16, 2019

I would literally empower (and force) my kids to learn programming. It’s problem solving, algorithms, math and critical thinking all in one.

— Abhar (@fabhar) October 16, 2019

Do you think streamless education is better for Malaysia? Or has it just been applied wrongly?

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