The six years of primary education provide pupils with a strong
foundation in reading, writing, and arithmetic (3R) skills; thinking skills;
the basic concepts of science, arts, and recreation; and the inculcation
of moral values.
Primary schooling begins when a child
is seven years old and is completed in six years. In
Malaysia, primary schooling is compulsory.
Home
schooling or home-based teaching is allowed only with the prior
permission of Ministry of Education.
Primary schooling begins when a child is seven years old and is
completed in six years. Since 2003, primary schooling is compulsory
while home schooling or home-based teaching, that is, children being
taught at home, is allowed only with the prior permission of the State
Education Department, Ministry of Education.
All Malaysian parents
must ensure that their children have access to primary education when
they reach the age of six.
Providers of Primary School Education
There are two categories of public-funded primary schools, namely:
1
National schools - SK
2
National-type schools (Chinese / Tamil) - SJK
All schools must use the prescribed National Curriculum which specifies
the knowledge, skills and values that are expected to be acquired by
pupils at the end of their respective periods of schooling.
The medium of instruction used in national schools is Bahasa Malaysia
(the national language) with English as a compulsory subject while
the medium of instruction in national-type primary schools are either
Chinese or Tamil with both Bahasa Malaysia and English taught as
compulsory subjects. From 2003 onwards, English has been introduced
as the medium of instruction for two subjects, namely Science and
Mathematics for all schools.
At the end of 6 years primary education, pupils sit for a common Primary School
Achievement Test / Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (PSAT / UPSR).
Under the Education Act 1996, pupils would complete their
primary education within 5 to 7 years.
Examination is a
form of assessment, to gauge the achievements of students, review the
approaches and techniques of teachers and to reflect on the success of
National Education System as a whole.
External examinations like UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM will ensure the students
in various schools all over the country achieve a standard which is uniform
thorough out. School based assessments will not be able to compare the
standard with other schools.
By abolishing the UPSR and PMR examinations, we will have to wait for at
least 11 years (6 years in primary school and 5 years in secondary school)
to gauge the standard or achievement of a student based on a national
benchmark.....
TAWAU, Board of Directors from the IndoTiongHua primary
school in Tarakan, Indonesia, paid a visit to the district
and met with three Chinese based schools’ representatives at
a dinner held at a restaurant last night. Leading the team
of seven was its’ chairman of the board Harry Salim. The
primary school is the first Chinese language school in
Tarakan meant to bring Chinese education to Chinese
Indonesian and Indonesian alike while at the same time
promoting understanding of culture and language to the rest
of races living in Indonesia. Speaking to the floor, vice
chairman Alex Heryanto said that the dinner is to show
appreciation and exchanging information on Chinese education
between them as the local Chinese schools in Tawau had
assisted the IndoTiongHua when it began three years ago. The
representatives from Tawau came from the Sabah Chinese High
School, Sing Hwa primary school and Yuk Chin primary school.
Among the chief guest at the dinner was Dato' Yong Chi Fui.
The latest Anglican Vision School located at Mile 10, Apas road, in
Bandar Sri Indah is an effort by the church to complement the
Government's aspiration to provide education for youngsters in Sabah.
The Education Ministry approved the school with the certificate of
registration issued on May 15, 2009
The school will be preparing students in the UPSR, PMR and SPM
examinations.
The Vision School is wholly owned by the Anglican Diocese of. Sabah and
managed by the Board of Directors in St. Patrick's. Anglican Church,
Tawau.
School Projects for Special
Initiatives by MOE
There are 7 unique types of
school projects at primary and secondary levels being implemented
for specific purposes:
1
Smart Schools
2
Vision Schools
3
Sport Schools
4
Residential Schools (schools with boarding facilities)
5
Special Model Schools
6
Special Needs Schools
7
Cluster Schools
1
Smart Schools (Sekolah Bestari)
The Smart School is a new structure in the national education
system that was implemented in accordance to the advancement of
technology, and social and cultural aspects. The Smart School is one
of the seven flagship applications of the Multimedia Super Corridor
(MSC). The national schools (primary and secondary) that are granted
Smart School status are equipped with computers and multimedia
laboratories as well as courseware supported by the Internet and
local network (LAN / WAN) facilities to enhance the learning-teaching
process.
2
Vision Schools (Sekolah Wawasan)
This project is implemented only in primary schools. Under the Vision
School concept, selected national schools and national-type primary
schools (Chinese / Tamil) are placed in the same compound where
pupils would share common facilities such as the playground, hall and
canteen. The individual school's administrative power, characteristics
and identity remain unchanged.
The aim of this school concept is to inculcate and foster unity among
multi-racial students. There are six Vision Schools in operation.
3
Sport Schools (Sekolah Sukan)
Sport Schools are implemented only at secondary school level. The
main objective of Sport Schools is to nurture and develop potential
athletes among the school students, and to ultimately groom them
into world champions in their respective type of sports. Currently,
there are two such schools which offer board and lodging; they are
Bukit Jalil Sport School, Kuala Lumpur and Bandar Penawar Sport
School, Kota Tinggi, Johor.
Other than having intensive sports training sessions daily, the students
follow the same academic programme as other schools. However,
the school's academic schedule is more flexible, as sport schools
emphasize on sport programmes. Further, the school's athletes
are allowed to defer their PMR, SPM or pre-university examination
if they are required to compete or train either domestically or
internationally.
The intake of students is carried out scientifically through Talent
Identification, Talent Search and Talent Scouting along with proposals
from the national sports association and also through the programmes
"Gemilang Majlis Sukan Negara".
4
Residential Schools (fully-residential schools with boarding facilities)
(Sekolah Penuh Berasrama)
Fully-residential schools are schools that accommodate the entire
student population of the school in hostels. This type of schools is
primarily for Bumiputra students. Besides the distance of the students7
home from the school and the financial standing of their parents,
scholastic achievement is the main determinant for placement.
Bumiputra students from urban areas who excel academically and
in co-curricular activities are also eligible. In fully-residential science
schools, non-Bumiputra students who excel academically are also
enrolled in its hostels.
5
Special Model Schools
Special Model Schools (Sekolah Model Khas)
The Special Model School is a new concept implemented by the
Ministry of Education in the national education. Special Model
Schools will be equipped with physical facilities that are conducive
for improving the quality of education and reducing the number of
neglected students especially in the rural area.
This type of school congregates the Stage II (Year 4, 5 and 6) students
from primary school with secondary school students (Form 1 to Form 5).
Other than providing physical facilities and KBSR / KBSM education,
this programme also provides a hostel, teachers' accommodation
and a recreation centre. The Ministry also provides financial help,
text books, food and care for students who are sitting for their UPSR
and PMR. Nursing care is provided especially for students in primary
Stage II who are still incapable of taking care of themselves.
Priority for entry into this type of school is given to students from less
fortunate families studying in nearby schools. Up to 2003, there are
eight Special Model Schools.
6
Special Needs Schools
These schools are specially tailored for students of primary and
secondary levels with special needs such as students with disabilities,
students with visual or hearing impairment as well as those with
learning disabilities. Such students are given an extended time frame
to complete their education.
Special Education Programmes by the Ministry of Education are
provided through the following arrangements:
Special Education Schools - These schools accommodate pupils
with severe visual or hearing impairment, or learning disabilities
and provide academic and vocational education.
Special Education Inclusive Programme / Special Integration
Education Programmes - This programme integrates students
with visual or hearing impairment, or learning disabilities into
regular academic primary and secondary schools as well as
secondary vocational / technical schools. The programme uses
teaching and learning methods that adopt a full or partial inclusive
approach.
7
Cluster Schools
(Sekolah Kluster)
The Malaysian Cluster schools concept was introduced under the
National Education Blueprint (2006-2010) with the aim of accelerating
the excellence at educational institutions. These cluster schools are the
centers of excellence (within each school group) focusing on niche
areas such as music, sports, ICT, science, language and special
education.
At age 7, Malaysian children begin their formal education (pendidikan)
in primary schools (sekolah rendah).
Primary schooling lasts 6 years altogether.
Primary schools can usually be recognized
by the prefixes in their names, such as
SK - Sekolah Kebangsaan;
SJK - Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan;
SJK(C) - Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina;
SJK(T) - Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil;
SRJK - Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan;
SRJK(C) - Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina;
SRJK(T) - Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil; and
The multitudes of variations is due to
the fact that schools use different ethnic languages as their medium of
instruction. However, they all subscribe to the same national curriculum
known as KBSR (Kurikulum Baru Sekolah Rendah / Kurikulum
Bersepadu Sekolah Rendah), or New Curriculum for Primary School /
Integrated Curriculum for Primary School. Using this scheme, primary
schooling is separated into :
Level I (Tahap I) - Year 1,
Year 2 and Year 3
Level II (Tahap II). Year 4,
Year 5 and Year 6
The academic subjects (matapelajaran,
mata pelajaran) taught under KBSR are listed below:
Subjects in Level I - Years 1, 2 & 3 (Subjek dalam Tahap I - Tahun
1, 2 & 3)
UPSR,
short for Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah or Primary School
Achievement Test is a compulsory national examination (peperiksaan
kebangsaan) for Year 6 primary school students. These pupils will sit
for the exam at the end of their academic year. Not all subjects that are
taught in school will be tested though. Only selected subjects considered
as important are covered in the UPSR. These subjects are:
Subjects
in Primary School Achievement Test, UPSR - Year 6
(Subjek dalam Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah, UPSR - Tahun 6)
