SHAH ALAM: The Education Ministry will work towards instilling the culture of happiness, love and mutual respect in schools and varsities in a bid to create a fun and positive learning environment.
Its minister, Dr Maszlee Malik said he hopes the three cultures will be inculcated and popularised among all those in the education field, including lecturers, teachers, school and varsity students as well as parents.
“Firstly, we need to spread happiness. People live in a stressful environment and lead stressful lives. Stress is not good for our health, emotion, growth.
“Secondly, is the culture of love. At times, problems (or social issues) occur due to the lack of love. And thirdly, is mutual respect. We need to respect one another despite our differences in terms of race, religion, state or background.
“These are the three cultures that must be instilled into our lives and in classrooms and lecture halls. We do not want people who only live by the books. We also want to churn graduates with high moral values.
“We no longer want to hear about hatred or prejudice against another race, religion or party. We celebrate differences and differences are our strength,” he told reporters after attending the Karnival Karangkraf 2018 closing ceremony, here, today.
Maszlee further said this will not be forced onto students and teachers, but they will be empowered and encouraged to live by the three cultures.
“It (the three cultures) is not a law, policy or circular. In the future, we will try to draft programmes to make this part of our learning and teaching process.”
On Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, Maszlee said the ministry will focus on increasing research and seek ways to boost critical thinking among students, teachers and lecturers.
“I am confident that once they have these three cultures in them, they will take their own initiatives to improve themselves. We can no longer force anything onto students. That era has passed. Today it's all about being happy. Learning and teaching should be fun.”
On the previous administration’s initiative to establish a National STEM Learning Centre to produce capable teachers passionate about the subjects, Maszlee said the ministry will continue carrying out all good initiatives and plans as stated in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025.
He, however, said the ministry will carry out midterm reviews over the projects, plans and matters that have been carried out to ensure its efficiency.
The National STEM Centre initiative, modelled after the one in York, United Kingdom, was one of the measures to boost science and maths excellence among Malaysians.
In 1967, Malaysia had set a target whereby 60 per cent of students must take up science. However, a study revealed that only less than 21 per cent of students were eligible to take up science.