Will Education Development Blue Print (2006-2010) overlaps with Education Development Plan (2001-2010)?

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw mentioned the possible overlapping of the Education Development Blue Print (2006-2010) with Education Development Plan (2001-2010), hoping that the Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin would be able to avoid doing so.

Just as some countries including Hong Kong, 24% of our budget allocation is for education. We must use it meaningfully. Between 2001 and 2010, the Education Ministry has the Education Development Plan. Then, bewteen 2006 and 2010, it prepares the Edcuation Development Blue Print. The Education Minister must refrain from overlapping and contradictions. Although he says that the blue print is to enhance the existing policies and strategies, we can see weaknesses in areas such as pre-school education, the Examination Board, the teaching of Mahtmatics and Science using English, the achievement indicatiors and so forth.

Since 2003, the ministry has drawn up guidelines for pre-school education. By 2005, it had 3,287 kindergartens, the Department of National Unity 1,500 classes and the private sector 11,ooo classes. We doubt the effectiveness of monitoring by the ministry. We must improve it to ensure that public and private pre-school education follows the minisry's guildelines.

While the ministry continues to implement the concept of smart schools, it has introduced the concept of cluster schools. It ought to inform us of the achievement or otherwise of smart schools and the truth of cluster schools.

We have to review the part played by the Examination Board, including the questions set. Are they consistent with the modern world? Every time, the ministry announces examinations results, the media play it up, such as a student getting 19 As . What does this mean? Will he or she be having 19As in most endeavours for the rest of his or her life? We must encourage students to do well, such as getting good examinations results. This must be done within reasons. The Dewan Rakyat has 219 MPs. How many MPs, including ministers, had so many As?

Dr Tan Seng Giaw