No more jaguh kampung: 13MP must fix education at its root

New Straits Times

23-07-2025

WE know this story too well. For decades, learner drivers have been quietly told to pay a little extra — not just for driving school fees, but also for something more insidious.
A token for the tester, so he would be more lenient.
It was whispered as tradition, shrugged off as harmless. But it boils down to one thing: the lowering of standards. And it does not stop at driving tests.
Stories abound of students scraping through with the barest of marks, or earning distinctions with percentages that would not meet the bar elsewhere.
If this continues, we are not building a nation — we are building a myth.
A jaguh kampung mindset: champions of the small pond, unprepared for the ocean.
The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), running from 2026 to 2030, places education and talent development at the heart of national transformation.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim — himself a former education minister — has called for sweeping reforms. And rightly so.
He knows, perhaps better than most, what must be done. We need:
PRESCHOOL reform that nurtures curiosity, not just compliance;
TEACHER training that attracts the committed and talented, not those seeking a stable government job; and,
A NATIONAL embrace of STEM education as the foundation of future competitiveness.
Because here's the truth: if we fail to invest in the early years and the educators who shape them, we are not just short-changing students — we're sabotaging our future workforce.
The 13MP rightly elevates Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). For too long, TVET was treated as a fallback.
But in a world hungry for skilled technicians, coders and creators, it's the new frontline of innovation.
Politicians and educators must stop viewing TVET as a second-tier option. It's not. It's strategic. It's essential.
The 13MP promises to tackle the urban-rural education gap. But promises must be matched with infrastructure. Digital access, teacher deployment and community engagement must be prioritised — not just in policy papers, but in budget allocations and boots-on-the-ground execution.
In this respect, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil deserves credit for pushing Internet access in rural schools.
But we need more than connectivity — we need continuity, quality and commitment.
For far too long, we have treated education as a routine function — another line item in the national budget. But when we neglect its deeper purpose, we find ourselves adrift.
As Ghanaian philosopher Ernest Agyemang Yeboah reminds us: "Education is the spine of every nation. The better the education, the better the nation."
Education needs a reckoning. And the 13MP could be that moment — if we dare to treat education not as a segment, but as the soul of our national progress.
Education must be the engine of economic and societal progress. No compromise on quality upskilling, lifelong learning and workforce readiness.
This is where Kesuma — the Human Resources Ministry under Steven Sim — can play a transformative role in shaping Kesuma Bangsa: the young talent who will be the pride ofMalaysia.
With talent development now a national priority, reorganising the National Education Master Plan to reflect current realities is not optional — it's imperative.
Malaysia's education system has long been caught between legacy structures and modern demands. We have spent years tweaking curricula, debating exam formats and sparring over language policies.
But the deeper question remains: are we preparing Malaysians to thrive — not just survive — in a world that's changing faster than our syllabi?
The 13MP offers a rare window to answer that question with boldness. The time is now.