History are listed as subject that compulsory to pass in 2013 (Magazine)

By: Tan Yin Zin ( Friday, 29 November 2010)

Kuala Lumpur: Whether like it or not, history has become a compulsory subject for passing the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). This policy has taken root.

This decision makes totally unexpected, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin's made announcement at the UMNO General Assembly recently that SPM students must have to pass the history subject along with Bahasa Melayu from 2013.

This Minister mention caught many people surprising because it is announced hurry during the UMNO General Assembly, but not after the cabinet meeting. There was without in advance discussion with the Deputy Education Minister, Dato Dr Wee Ka Siong. In addition, it was made without approve and accede of the education bodies such as NUTP, Dong Chia Zhong and others.

Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Education Minister, said at the assembly, the students who failed the history exam cannot accept their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) certificate. The arraignment means that a student failing history will fail the whole SPM.

“The Ministry of Education will improve understanding formation about the country's constitution and the course of history in Malaysia”, he said in the assembly.

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 The parents and especially students are obviously involved with the decision which is who are already strive with the subject. This is in response the complaint to a younger generation about the knowledge of the history.

After Education Minister Muhyddin Yassin made the announcement, Minister's speech caused criticism and extensive discussion of all parties concerned.

“How you can use a national exam to measure the individual's patriotism?” Said a secondary school teacher Winnie, who agrees that students should pass the history subject in SPM. Winnie has been teaching subject of history more than 10 years. “If this statement implement, this will make our students more interested in history subject and will make the teaching of history easier for history teachers.” said Winnie.

Muhyiddin's decision also caused some people against because them believe that English is the global language should become a compulsory subject must instead subject of history.

“Now the reduction in the level of English language in our country students made a very serious problem, because English is the primary global language.” Said Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, a chairperson of Listen

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Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE).

 “If the decision to make subject of English was made compulsory, students will take heart to improve their English.” She said.

Lok Yim Pheng, secretary of general, said that students will feel more pressure, because they need to get the SPM examination certificate through passing the subject of history.

“Ministry of Education must ensure that the range of questions in examination is from easy to difficult, there can answer by different potential student answer.”  She said. “Ministry of Education should research the result of history in to check whether students have the ability to cope with stress.” Said Lok Yim Pheng.