Kuala lumpur: The government has been urged to implement education reform by setting up an Education Commission and strengthening Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) to address issues more holistically. National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) president Aminuddin Awang stated that an Education Commission should be established to ensure that education policies are planned and implemented within set timelines, free from the influence of administrative changes or political interests.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Aminuddin emphasized that the commission would act as a supervisory body for national education policies, ensuring they remain consistent and do not change frequently, which could negatively impact future generations of students. He expressed that frequent changes in leadership or ministerial positions leave teachers uncertain about new policies, as previous ones are often discontinued.

Aminuddin made these remarks at a forum titled ‘Reformasi Pendidikan dan Cabaran Masa Kini: Punya Arah atau Hilang Arah?’ (Education Reform and Contemporary Challenges: Clear Direction or Loss of Direction), held at the Raja Tun Uda Library Auditorium. The event was officiated by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and included other panellists such as Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) vice-chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Md Amin Md Taff, Senator Dr Jufitri Joha, and Batu Tiga assemblyman Danial Al-Rashid Haron Aminar Rashid.

Aminuddin elaborated that educators are aware of the tradition where new appointees link new policies or initiatives to themselves. This practice needs reform due to its impact on teachers. Despite changes in leadership, concerns troubling educators persist, particularly regarding policy changes with each new ministry leadership.

Md Amin highlighted the necessity of strengthening PTAs, as student success is influenced by collaboration between parents and teachers. He suggested that parents should be encouraged to take meetings seriously and actively participate in improving school administration. He pointed out that in countries like the United States, parents are involved in their children’s learning sessions, which fosters a better understanding of school operations.

Jufitri added that strengthening PTAs requires government funding in the national budget to ensure they can perform their role effectively. An initiative by the Selangor government last year allocated RM1,000 to each school PTA across the state for their programmes. The forum marked Selangor as the first state to hold a multi-stakeholder discussion to explore the challenges and future direction of the education system.