The Malaysian Insight

MORE focus will be given to English, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in schools, and less lesson time for religious studies, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

This, he said, is to equip pupils to be better prepared for the future.

Dr Mahathir, who is also the acting education minister, said national schools have been focusing too much on Islamic studies, making them more like religious schools.

“Many of the periods are devoted to teaching religion. We give sufficient periods to teach religion but the rest we must concentrate on STEM,” he said in Langkawi yesterday.

He said a Muslim student must not only grow up to be a good Muslim but also a knowledgeable Muslim.

“He (a pupil) will be a good Muslim but he must be a Muslim with knowledge, not a Muslim who can only quote from the Quran but doesn’t follow what is in the Quran.”

Dr Mahathir said he has already discussed the matter with former education minister Maszlee Malik who had already begun the transformation process during his tenure.

Maszlee had resigned on January 3 on the advice of the prime minister for allegedly making decisions that put the government in a difficult position.

Dr Mahathir also said the increasing focus on Islamic matters had caused pupils of other races to lose interest in national schools.

“They (national schools) have been converted to be religious schools. They have to come back to being national schools. National schools should be attractive to all races.”

The acting education minister also drew attention to the misunderstanding of Muslims about life in the world and the afterlife.

He said many parents seem to forget their responsibilities in the world and pay attention only to life after death.

“The fatalistic attitudes (depending on fate) of the parents are terrible. They were told about the afterlife but what about this life?

“Islam says we must not forget our role in the world. Yes, we can prepare for life after death but this world is just as important.

“Many of the education officers, they don’t know their religion. When someone says that this is the religion, they are not in a position to argue. They just accept.”

The Malaysian Insight had previously reported that the prime minister had asked Maszlee to begin the process of reviewing the school syllabus. This took place just six months after Pakatan Harapan took power.

He had also questioned why the younger generation lacked good values and integrity despite spending so much time studying religion.

The Malaysian Insight understands that the Islamic education subjects are taught six times a week in primary schools compared to 10 times each for Bahasa Melayu and English.

Maths is taught six times a week while it is four times a week for science subjects.

In April 2019, the National Education Policy Review Committee submitted reports and recommendations to the Education Ministry to improve the national education system.  The report is being refined at the ministry level, before being presented to the cabinet. – January 21, 2020.