History a must-pass subject for SPM from 2013 (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: History will be a must-pass subject in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination from 2013 along with the Bahasa Malaysia subject, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

With the move, students must pass the subject to be able to obtain the SPM certificate, said Muhyiddin, who is the Education Minister.

“We need to give them (students) some time to adjust. We also need time to train teachers and to prepare our students to face the new system," he said in his winding-up speech at the 2010 Umno General Assembly, here Saturday.

He also said that from 2014, history would be made a core subject in primary school under the Primary School Standard Curriculum.

He said the ministry would also make improvement to the subject, with emphasis on enhancing the understanding of the constitution so as to enlighten students about the country's nation-building process.

He also said that the implementation of the school-based assessment system, which would replace the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR), would be brought forward from 2016 to 2014 following calls for the assessment system to be expedited.

"The UPSR (Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah) examination will be retained but will undergo improvement based on current development. But we still need some time to retrain the teachers and so on," he said.

Muhyiddin said the ministry would also channel RM10mil to fund activities of Yayasan Guru Malaysia Berhad, a foundation set up to take care of the welfare of teachers.

"I've brought up this matter with the prime minister and he agrees that RM10mil be channelled to foundation," he said, adding that another foundation, Yayasan Guru Tun Hussein Onn, would be set up, also to care for the welfare of teachers.

"A total of RM200mil of fund will be channelled to the foundation," he added.

He also said that the ministry would implement the Primary School Standard Curriculum with emphasis on hands-on learning, language ability and fun learning, from next year.

The ministry also planned to increase the intake of vocational students to 81,000 students or 20% by 2015 compared to 40,706 students or 10% at the moment, he said.

"A total of RM340mil will be allocated for this purpose under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP)," he said, adding that four vocational schools would be built during the 10MP (2011-2015).

To enhance competency among vocational teachers, the ministry would train 4,764 teachers to achieve at least Level 3 in the Malaysian Skills Certificate from next year, he added. - Bernama