21st Century Education in Malaysia: Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning

This assignment provides a comprehensive overview of 21st-century education in Malaysia, examining its evolution in response to globalization, liberalization, and technological advancements. It begins with an introduction to the education system, overseen by the Ministry of Education, and highlights the Education Act of 1996. The literature review explores the challenges and opportunities presented by the 21st century, focusing on the integration of ICT, curriculum development, and the competencies required for future generations. It also delves into Malaysia's Vision 2020 and its implications for education, including aspirations for access, quality, equity, unity, and efficiency. The assignment further discusses the evolving roles of teachers and students, as well as the impact of ICT infrastructures and internet connectivity on teaching and learning methodologies. Various techniques, such as PowerPoint and poster presentations, are examined, as well as modern tools like smart boards and SPSS software. The assignment concludes by emphasizing the necessity of updating teaching and learning methods to align with the demands of the 21st century, highlighting the role of government policies and the importance of preparing students for a rapidly changing world. The document references several authors and studies to support its arguments.

SOCIOLOGY AND
PHILOSOPHY OF
EDUCATION IN
MALAYSIA

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
21st century Education in Malaysia..................................................................................................1
Literature review about direction of 21st century Education teaching and learning...................1
Views on 21st century Education teaching and learning.............................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Education is a procedure of acquiring learning, knowledge, skills, beliefs and values for
bright future. However, it takes place frequently under the guidance of educators which are
experienced and qualified for providing formal education. Basically, formal method of gaining
education is classified into various stages such as; pre-school or kindergarten, primary school,
secondary school, then college after that university or apprenticeship (García, (2011). Mainly,
education in Malaysia is overseen or handled by Ministry of Education. Although, it’s an
obligation of Federal governing bodies but each state and federal authority have a separate
Education department for co-ordinating with educational matters of its territory. Moreover,
foremost legislation which governs education is Education Act, 1996. Therefore, this assignment
is going to highlight the way of providing knowledge in 21st century and opinions of distinct
people on modern education.
21st century Education in Malaysia
Literature review about direction of 21st century Education teaching and learning
In 21st century, Malaysia encountered new challenges in educational department because
of globalization, liberalization, internationalization as well as enhancement of ICT. Therefore,
for overcoming these challenges, efforts are fully made by governing bodies in education system
through curriculum content as well as distinct learning activities which resulted in development
of physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual relevance. However, agenda of developing
country to maximum range of human capital is based on Malaysian educational system. Indeed,
expectations of country and entire community are based on teachers for preparing an excellence,
glorious and unique of future generation (Lambert & Gong, (2010).
Meaning of 21st century education- This term refer to few major core competencies such
as; collaboration, digital literacy, critical way of thinking, ability to solve complexity, updated
about latest technology and awareness about various modern things. It means, educational
system must have the ability and facilities to provide this type of knowledge to their upcoming
generation. In fact, coming time frame is demanding more or more due to the emergence of
various other creative materials which make things easier. For example; now-a-days kids are
fully aware about the social sites and how these are used. In fact, awareness of these things are
indispensable also for make them capable to deal with current trends and modern technology.
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As societal changes incurred at marketplace, skills which is requisite for common people
to deal with complexities of current life also changes. Basically, in early 1990s individual who is
having a reading capability, writing and calculating are considered as most literate person of
region. But now in this modern world, educational system of Malaysia is expecting that all the
students have the capability of reading critically, writing persuasively, thinking logically as well
as must have the ability to solve complex mathematical questions. Therefore, complexity which
incurred in current world demanded high degree of expertise people for teaching future of nation.
Malaysia is now considered as mid-point of its journey towards vision 2020 and transferring in
order to become a developed nation in the second phase of fifteen year period. However, world
of Malaysia has tremendously changed today in terms of technology enhancement. Along with
this, various activities required to operate internationally for surviving in this competitive world
(Buabeng-Andoh,, (2012).
According to the viewpoint of Khir, (2006), several number of Malaysian graduates are
lagging behind in both terms technical as well as generic skills. Thus, for building knowledge
based economy, school education of Malaysia requisite to transform with ICT for having wide
source for gaining information. Along with this, aids in maximizing innovation, creativity as well
as encourage towards critical thinking in order resolve certain problems.
On the other hand, Thang and et. Al., (2014) states that there are five system aspirations
which helps in developing Malaysian Education system and shows the Vision 2020 that is
detailed as follows-
 Access- 100% enrolment across all the levels of education which begins from pre-school
to upper secondary by the end of 2020.
 Quality- Trying to become top third countries at global platform.
 Equity – Achievements gaps for 50% reduction.
 Unity – As per this element, education system must offers shared values and experiences
in order build diversity at marketplace.
 Efficiency – A system needs to establish for maximizing the student outcomes within
recent budget.
Along with this, it is essential to have few necessary competitive attributes to the students
of 21st century such as; critical thinking, leadership skills, ethics and spirituality, national identify
knowledge and ability to deal with complex issues. Moreover, ICT also needs to use in current
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educational system such as; hardware, software, network, pedagogy and competency
development. Additionally, learning in 21st century calls for new jobs or responsibilities for
teachers, students and technology. Reigeluth, 2009 states that three foremost roles of teachers in
new paradigm of instruction such as; teacher as designer of student work, facilitator of new
gaining process and caring mentor for multiple development of students.
 Teacher as designer- Every individual knows that teachers are seen as “guide on the
side” not act as a “sage on stage”. Mainly, he/she frames the instructional space and
learning activities which is an appropriate time and strategy for completing the learning
activity. For instance; slow student requires more care and attention or customized tutor.
 As facilitator- Teacher supports in enhancing personal learning plans, coaching or
scaffolding whenever appropriate, facilitates with discussion. Along with this, offers best
learning resources as well as physical facilities.
 Act as a caring mentor- As per this element, it has been understood that teacher also act
as a mentor who cares in all round development of a person or student.
On contrary to this new roles for students of 21st century are discussed below-
 Learner act as worker- A person who is acquiring knowledge from experience person
in formal way is known as learner who is doing number of things for gaining learning
whereas teacher is a creator of work that is accomplished by learner.
 Self-directed learner- Main objective of teacher is to polish their student in order to
become independent, self-directed and self-motivated learner in order to make them self-
independent. Along with this, it helps in enhancing their personality which helps the
learner in their whole life.
 Learner as a teacher- According to this component, it has been analysed that best way
of learning is to teach because knowledge is an only thing which maximized and
developed by sharing with others.
Throughout the analysis it has been determined that, usage of technology and new way of
gaining knowledge are emerging at global marketplace which helps various students in acquiring
advanced information. Along with this, lots of changes in current educational system of teaching,
learning and educating in Malaysia aids entire nation in attaining their vision of 2020. Moreover,
they are focussing in developing each or every child of country for making the Malaysia world’s
third top most country at global platform (Musa, Lie & Azman, (2012).
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Views on 21st century Education teaching and learning
ICT infrastructures as well as connectivity through internet provides learners and teachers
both advanced opportunity of adopting 21st century teaching-learning tools which promotes
development skills. However, presence of internet connectivity in specific platform offers from a
instant shift from a usage of teacher-centred pedagogy towards learned centred which is more
activity oriented. Basically, 21st century is considered as an outstanding development in ICT
services from past few years. In fact, integration of these tools in social-economic and political
institutions is automatically maximizing the human interaction as well as aids in maximizing
knowledge. Instead of all these things, ICT is having a major use in teaching and learning area
because entire world is easily accessed through computer and mobile technology with the help of
internet services (Tyner, (2014).
For instance; teacher can access online lesson plan, enhance their content through distinct
educational websites and update their knowledge which helps them in teaching their students. On
contrary to this, learners can also access internet for enhancing their information which helps
them in broadening learning at local and international level. However, number of techniques are
identified which are used by teachers in 21st century for providing information in advanced way
which is described as follows-
 Power point presentation- With the help of this technology, teachers can easily deliver
necessary information in broader way to entire class in one go. It means, number of
students can gain information simultaneously by understanding the concept in more depth
way as well as get a hint of it with the help of images.
 Poster presentation- As per this element, teachers can present the images of each or
every term for making things more untestable in easy manner as well as clear the base of
any subject matter.
 Smart board technologies- These modern boards are helpful for students in
understanding things in easy manner as teacher use it for writing the content in order to
clear the doubts of their students.
 SPSS software- This software is used by schools and high school colleges as well as
universities for teaching statistics and the technique of using this application for resolving
tricky questions.
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By the use of all these tools and techniques at Malaysian school or colleges, every student
can easily enhance their knowledge and succeeded in gaining advanced information. Along with
this, it will help in developing the nation by safeguarding the future of country. 21st century is
enhancing in a rapid way due to the emergence of various unique technique of acquiring learning
as well as various individuals are coming up with creative concept which resulted in
maximization of competition at marketplace. All these things enforce governing bodies of
Malaysia to improve their educational system by launching facilitating each or every schools
with modern methods of teaching. In fact, conduct awareness programmes for updating the
common people about the meaning of literacy in this 21st century or modern world. For example;
if a person don’t know how to use computer, android cell phones, laptops and various other
applications are consider as illiterate or old people. Therefore, in order to cope up with these
current changes, various schools and universities need to change their policies and update their
traditional method of teaching for dealing with this major development (Spring, (2016).
Consequently, various authors have also expressed their opinions towards enhancement
of rural schools by government with the help of social programmes. For example; Vision of 2020
is one of the top most programmes which is set by government of Malaysia for development of
nation with the enhancement in various sectors. Along with this, increase in competition level
also enforce distinct nation to think on their existing mode of teaching. Hence, it has been
understood that various internal and external factors are plays a major role in maximizing the
development in educational system in order to cope up with current changes. Additionally,
Malaysian governing and legal bodies also comes with various acts and accomplished several
amendments associated with teaching system in order to enforce several schools towards
adoption of modern method teaching. It means, these changes and modification automatically
maximize the usage of internet and advanced technology in education which is a current demand
of 21st century across the global platform
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that update in modes of learning and
teaching is really indispensable for the success or development of whole nation. It helps country
in establishing their positioning at global platform by coming up with unique style of offering
learning. Therefore, whole assignment shows various techniques and tools as well as initiatives
which is taken by governing bodies for developing the individual of country. Throughout the
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analysis, it has been understood that usage of advanced tool is necessary for students of 21st
century because it aids them in enhancing their overall personality. Additionally, make them
more advanced which helps in attaining great success in their future life.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
García, O. (2011). Bilingual education in the 21st century: A global perspective. John Wiley &
Sons.
Lambert, J., & Gong, Y. (2010). 21st century paradigms for pre-service teacher technology
preparation. Computers in the Schools, 27(1), 54-70.
Buabeng-Andoh, C. (2012). Factors Influencing Teachers' Adoption and Integration of
Information and Communication Technology into Teaching: A Review of the
Literature. International Journal of Education and Development using Information and
Communication Technology, 8(1), 136-155.
Thang, S. M and et. Al., (2014). Enhancing 21st century learning skills via digital storytelling:
Voices of Malaysian teachers and undergraduates. Procedia-Social and Behavioral
Sciences, 118, 489-494.
Musa, N. C., Lie, K. Y., & Azman, H. (2012). Exploring English language learning and teaching
in Malaysia. GEMA Online® Journal of Language Studies, 12(1).
Tyner, K. (2014). Literacy in a digital world: Teaching and learning in the age of information.
Routledge.
Spring, J. (2016). Deculturalization and the struggle for equality: A brief history of the education
of dominated cultures in the United States. Routledge.
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