Khat to be included in school curriculum

PETALING JAYA: Khat or Jawi calligraphy will be taught as part of the Bahasa Melayu curriculum for Year Four pupils. But pupils will not be tested on their writing skill.

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan (pic) says that teachers are being trained to teach introduction to Khat to students in all schools starting next year.

The Education Ministry, he said, had assured NUTP that students would not be assessed on their mastery of the art.

“Khat is just a very small part of the new curriculum and textbook, ” he said.

“The purpose is to expose pupils to the aesthetics of calligraphy.

“Students won’t be tested on how well they write. It’s no different from learning Chinese calligraphy, ” he said in a statement.

Tan said the ministry told NUTP that Khat was an art of writing that could make learning more enjoyable for pupils while teaching them beautiful handwriting.

“Khat is an art involving the thickness of lines. NUTP has no objection to this as it can expand our children’s knowledge of the different types of calligraphy, ” he said, adding that the learning of Khat would not touch on any religion.