Latest news with #SijilPelajaranMalaysia
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
New housing areas must have schools under 13MP
Your browser does not support the audio element. KUALA LUMPUR: The government will make it mandatory for schools to be built in large-scale new housing developments. This is part of the education initiatives under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. He said that under the 13MP, the government will allocate RM67 billion to build new schools and upgrade existing ones. "The allocation will encompass the construction of new schools, repairs and upgrades of school buildings, including the Community Development Department (Kemas) centres, and infrastructure for public higher learning institutions," he said while tabling the document in Parliament. Anwar said up to this year, the government has upgraded 1,200 schools nationwide. He added that building schools will also become a condition for planning approval in all large-scale housing developments. ""At the same time, the government will expand the development of vertical schools to address student overcrowding and the shortage of suitable land for new school sites." Anwar said the government is determined to ensure preschool and secondary school enrolment rates reach 98 per cent — exceeding the global average. According to the United Nations Children's Fund, the global average for preschool enrolment is 61 to 70 per cent, and 76 tlo 80 per cent for secondary education. "Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, which serves as the main national benchmark, will continue to be used to assess the effectiveness of education policies, curriculum, and teaching methods," said Anwar. The five-year 13MP, which runs from 2026 to 2030, provides a strategic framework for the country's economic, social and environmental priorities. The plan comes as Malaysia navigates an increasingly complex global environment and embarks on an ambitious domestic reform agenda. It will also serve as a key policy platform for the unity government, which has based much of its governance on the principles of the Madani Economy.
Malaysian Reserve
a day ago
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
New housing projects must include schools, says Anwar
by HIDAYATH HISHAM THE government will make school construction a condition for planning approval of new large-scale housing developments under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the initiative aims to address overcrowding and the lack of suitable land for education facilities, particularly in urban areas. 'The construction of schools will also be made a condition for planning approval for new large-scale housing projects. 'Meanwhile, the development of vertical schools will be expanded to address student overcrowding and the unavailability of suitable school sites,' he said when tabling 13MP in the Dewan Rakyat today. Additionally, he said the government is committed to increasing preschool and secondary school enrolment rates to 98%, which would surpass global averages. 'The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), which serves as the main benchmark at the national level, will continue to be used to assess the effectiveness of policies, curriculum and pedagogical approaches in the education system,' he said. Anwar also said the country aims to raise its education quality to match international standards based on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) benchmarks.
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Business
- Sinar Daily
RM67 billion needed for education under 13MP- PM Anwar
The construction of vertical schools would be expanded to address the issue of student density and the lack of suitable school sites. 31 Jul 2025 03:11pm A total of RM67 billion will be allocated for the education sector under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), including building new schools, repair and upgrade school buildings, Kemas kindergartens, facilities and amenities of public higher education institutions. Photo by Bernama KUALA LUMPUR - A total of RM67 billion will be allocated for the education sector under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), including building new schools, repair and upgrade school buildings, Kemas kindergartens, facilities and amenities of public higher education institutions. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the construction of schools would also be made a condition for Planning Permission for new large-scale housing projects while the construction of vertical schools would be expanded to address the issue of student density and the lack of suitable school sites. "The government is determined to ensure that the enrolment rate of pre-school and secondary school students reaches 98 per cent, which is above the universal enrolment rate. "For the record, by 2025, the government has upgraded 1,200 dilapidated schools nationwide,' he said when tabling the 13th MP at Dewan Rakyat here, today. Meanwhile, he said the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) which is the main benchmark at national level will continue to be used to assess the effectiveness of the education system's policies, curriculum and pedagogical approaches. Anwar said the quality of the country's education at the same time would be improved to be at the international average level based on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) assessments to ensure the education system remains competitive and relevant. "To improve educational outcomes, the government is moving towards making pre-school compulsory starting at the age of five. At the same time, more preschool facilities in schools managed by the Ministry of Education (MOE) will be provided, especially in rural areas. "The government will also conduct a review of optimal school hours, evaluate the effectiveness of special schools and improve the education model for gifted and talented students,' he said. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tables 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) at Parliament today. Photo by Bernama He said focus would also be given to strengthening the mastery of the Malay language at all levels, in addition to making English part of the language of learning and communication, while additional language learning would also be expanded. "Emphasis would also be given to strengthening STEM education and digital literacy, including the introduction of AI basics to produce a generation that is ready to meet the demands of the high-value future job market,' he said. He said the national education system would also be streamlined to be more integrated, effective and responsive to future challenges and for this, the MOE would be fully responsible for regulating preschool to secondary education. For pre-university and higher education, Anwar said it would be coordinated by the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) with the aim of clarifying jurisdiction and improving policy and implementation efficiency. - BERNAMA
Barnama
a day ago
- Business
- Barnama
RM67 Billion Needed For Education Under 13PM
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- A total of RM67 billion will be allocated for the education sector under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), including building new schools, repair and upgrade school buildings, KEMAS kindergartens, facilities and amenities of public higher education institutions. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the construction of schools would also be made a condition for Planning Permission for new large-scale housing projects while the construction of vertical schools would be expanded to address the issue of student density and the lack of suitable school sites. 'The government is determined to ensure that the enrolment rate of pre-school and secondary school students reaches 98 per cent, which is above the universal enrolment rate. 'For the record, by 2025, the government has upgraded 1,200 dilapidated schools nationwide,' he said when tabling the 13th MP at Dewan Rakyat here, today. Meanwhile, he said the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) which is the main benchmark at national level will continue to be used to assess the effectiveness of the education system's policies, curriculum and pedagogical approaches. Anwar said the quality of the country's education at the same time would be improved to be at the international average level based on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) assessments to ensure the education system remains competitive and relevant. 'To improve educational outcomes, the government is moving towards making pre-school compulsory starting at the age of five. At the same time, more preschool facilities in schools managed by the Ministry of Education (MOE) will be provided, especially in rural areas. 'The government will also conduct a review of optimal school hours, evaluate the effectiveness of special schools and improve the education model for gifted and talented students,' he said. He said focus would also be given to strengthening the mastery of the Malay language at all levels, in addition to making English part of the language of learning and communication, while additional language learning would also be expanded.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Reducing SPM dropouts requires intervention, not enforcement
THE 11,412 teenagers who went missing in last year's Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations can be split into two main groups: those who want to sit for the SPM but were forced away by extenuating circumstances and those who just don't want to. The first category can be due to all sorts of travails that can derail a young life, such as working to support families, a death in the family, unstable home environments, or illness or health complications. It is the second category that is the most disturbing: students influenced by peers that further education is of little value. This perception is aggravated by the obsession to become social media influencers, anything to avoid slogging for higher education. There is also a third category: those eschewing the national system to be privately educated. Alarmed by the dropouts, the Education Ministry is taking action by mobilising home visits, providing counselling and monitoring absenteeism. But still, the decision to take the examination or drop out ultimately lies with the student. The ministry was somewhat successful under the Education Development Plan (2013-2025) in getting dropouts to return to school. As alarming as last year's 11,412 SPM dropouts were, it was an improvement from the 19,311 in 2020. These efforts are slow, but a faster, more punitive proposal is in the works: making secondary school education compulsory, with dropouts liable to a RM5,000 fine or six months' imprisonment. These measures in the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025 just tabled in Parliament, if adopted, should shrink dropout rates as parents are forced to ensure their children stay in school. The government views the bill as a way to improve literacy and skills, and reduce youth unemployment, narrow income gap and improve socioeconomic status. However, a word of caution: there may be a mutinous lot who will still opt out despite knowing the consequences. Perhaps the government should continue focusing on slow but positive intervention, rather than punitive measures. Dragging unrelenting parents or students to court or penalising them are terrible optics that'll whip up public backlash, besides further exposing a failed education system.
