KUALA LUMPUR: Mathematics lessons in primary schools will be increased to 608 hours for the school year under the 2027 curriculum, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
The Education Ministry said the increase from the current 576 hours will be reflected through weekly lessons being at 3.5 hours for Tahap I students, and three hours each for Tahap II and Tahap III students.
Tahap I refers to Years One and Two pupils, Tahap II to Years Three and Four, and Tahap III to Years Five and Six.
"Under the 2027 curriculum, Mathematics learning and teaching hours will be increased.
"The changes reflect an increased time allocation by up to 32 hours," it said in a parliamentary written reply on Wednesday (Feb 25).
The ministry added that this gives students the opportunity to better understand Mathematics and apply it in daily situations.
"The increased hours also enable teachers to give special attention and intervention to those needing additional support," it said.
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Literacy and numeracy mastery programmes will be carried out in primary schools to ensure pupils' proficiency before moving on to secondary schools, it added.
"These are strategic measures to strengthen students' basic literacy and numeracy skills. Strong basics are crucial as it forms the foundation of critical thinking, problem solving and the basic skills needed for students to succeed in education as well as life," it said.
Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli (PH-Pandan) wanted the ministry to state the long-, mid- and short-term measures to increase the instruction time for Mathematics in primary schools to at least 1,000 hours to be on par with countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar and the Philippines.
