KUALA LUMPUR: There are many positive reasons to limit the number of SPM subjects to 10, including the fact that it could overcome the shortage of teachers, Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
He said statistics showed that almost 90% of students took 10 subjects anyway.
“It all comes down to how we want to manage our education system so that we can produce students who are capable and not only in exams,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Asked whether opposition to the idea would lead to the proposal being shelved, he said:
“There are many who agree and they come from the education system.”
Muhyiddin said by limiting the subjects, the students could focus on core subjects as well as participate in other activities that would open up their minds.
“Apart from this, it can help teachers. With the reduced number of subjects, their energy can be focused on core subjects and the shortage of manpower could be somewhat overcome.”
Muhyiddin said that students also pursued more subjects just to add a few more As to their score.
“There are 111 electives, and some of these are not taught in school but require tuition outside of school. This means only those who can afford the tuition will benefit,” he said.
On the Universiti Sains Malaysia online fiasco with its first direct intake of undergraduates, Muhyiddin said the Cabinet had received a report from the Higher Education Ministry, adding that such mistakes should not have been made.
“I sympathise with those affected. The appropriate steps have been taken,” he said.
He said statistics showed that almost 90% of students took 10 subjects anyway.
“It all comes down to how we want to manage our education system so that we can produce students who are capable and not only in exams,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Asked whether opposition to the idea would lead to the proposal being shelved, he said:
“There are many who agree and they come from the education system.”
Muhyiddin said by limiting the subjects, the students could focus on core subjects as well as participate in other activities that would open up their minds.
“Apart from this, it can help teachers. With the reduced number of subjects, their energy can be focused on core subjects and the shortage of manpower could be somewhat overcome.”
Muhyiddin said that students also pursued more subjects just to add a few more As to their score.
“There are 111 electives, and some of these are not taught in school but require tuition outside of school. This means only those who can afford the tuition will benefit,” he said.
On the Universiti Sains Malaysia online fiasco with its first direct intake of undergraduates, Muhyiddin said the Cabinet had received a report from the Higher Education Ministry, adding that such mistakes should not have been made.
“I sympathise with those affected. The appropriate steps have been taken,” he said.
SUMBER : THE STAR
