KUALA LUMPUR: Parents and educationists support the return of the “Alam dan Manusia” (Nature and Humanity) subject in 2027, but say proper teacher training, including for co-teaching, is crucial for it to work well.
Parent Action Group for Education chairperson Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the initiative to make learning more meaningful and connected to real life was commendable.
However, she said, parents were naturally concerned about merging core subjects such as Science and Health Education into a single integrated subject.
She said these subjects each built important knowledge and skills and hoped the new curriculum would still give children a solid foundation in scientific thinking, health awareness and creativity.
“What is most important is how the subject is taught and assessed.
“If done well, integration can help children see how different areas of learning relate to one another.
“But assessment must be carefully designed to ensure students do not lose depth in essential areas such as Science and Health,” she told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Noor Azimah said teachers must be equipped with clear guidance, proper resources and adequate training to carry out the new approach effectively.
Malaysian Inclusive Development and Advancement Institute deputy director Dr Anuar Ahmad said training and skill development should begin next year to prepare teachers for this subject and for co-teaching.
He said the co-teaching method would be effective as it allowed students to receive more focused guidance and support.
“There is no problem in combining several disciplines such as history, science and visual arts into a single subject, especially at the primary school level.
“It is practised in many countries around the world, including advanced nations such as Finland, where integrated or multidisciplinary subjects are already being implemented,” he said.
National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Fouzi Singon said teachers were currently unprepared for the new curriculum, as no specific training had been conducted so far, adding that training would only be provided to Year One teachers next year.
“Even the Teacher Education Institute doesn’t have the curriculum to teach their student teachers.”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
