Kuala lumpur: All forms of contributions or external involvement, including by dignitaries and politicians, in institutions under the Ministry of Education (MOE) must comply with existing guidelines, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said today. She emphasized that contributions and public funding must align with the provisions outlined in the MOE’s Circular Letter No. 3 of 2018, which details the guidelines on channelling and receiving contributions from various sectors to government and government-aided schools.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, these guidelines ensure professional interaction within educational institutions and prioritize the safety, well-being, and welfare of the school community. Fadhlina made these remarks during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat, addressing a query from Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz regarding the procedures for organizations to make contributions to schools.
Fadhlina also noted that visits or involvement by dignitaries and politicians must adhere to MOE’s Circular Letter No. 4 of 2023, which offers guidelines for such visits to educational institutions. She stressed the importance of these guidelines in ensuring that contributions and external involvement are conducted with a focus on educational benefits, transparency, and harmony within the school ecosystem.
Responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Lo Su Fui about reviewing the syllabus to align with market needs, Fadhlina mentioned that the ministry has a system to help students choose educational and career pathways matching their qualifications and interests. She highlighted that students receive guidance from counsellors and teachers to identify suitable courses, especially after SPM.
Earlier, addressing Lo’s original question, Fadhlina discussed efforts to improve graduate employability through the Malaysia Education Development Plan (PPPM) 2026-2035. The plan focuses on artificial intelligence and strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to meet current and global competition needs. The plan’s five main pillars include quality, access and equity, resource availability and efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability, with an emphasis on curriculum alignment to market realities and AI integration.
She also mentioned the DELIMa digital learning platform, launched in July 2019, which offers 16 AI applications to assist teachers in planning lessons and enhancing the quality of teaching and learning. Lo’s query highlighted the unemployment issue, with 160,000 unemployed in Sabah and 600,000 nationwide as of 2024, underscoring the need for improved graduate employability through technological adoption.