PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry expect to see improvement in the implementation of the Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) in schools in the next three years.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said HOTS is not a school programme but a process of the students' development and thinking skills.
"HOTS is a process and it is a new thing. It will take some time for it to become a practice. We can't see the result instantly.
"It is meant to encourage students to think, communicate and make wise decision. We want to see how fast the students can think and answer a question. For HOTS, there is no right or wrong answer.
"I anticipate HOTS will get better in two or three years," he said, after attending the Rukun Negara recital programme at SK Putrajaya Presint 8 (2) today.
Mahdzir reiterated that it was not the teachers' fault that some students were failing to master HOTS.
"We never blamed the teachers or the system for the cause of poor performance of HOTS." he said.
On the event, Mahdzir said the recital of Rukun Negara programme was held simultaneously at schools nationwide.
The programme, organised by the ministry and National Unity and Integration Department, was to give students better understanding on national principles.
He said 220 schools had received RM220,000 to implement cross-cultural programmes through the Rukun Negara Club.
The cross-cultural module was designed by the National Unity and Integration Department and Universiti Putra Malaysia, as a mechanism to instill the spirit of unity among the young generation.
The cross-cultural module was based on 3B Formula - Bermain, Berkongsi dan Bertoleransi (Play, Share and Tolerate), where the students play activities in a fun environment; share their values and experiences; and learn to tolerate as well as accept and respect culture differences and sensitivity.