Taking The Task Of Reshaping The Future Of Malaysian Education

'Bridging the Gaps Within: Empowering Education for the Future Generation’
OPEN DIALOGUE ON MALAYSIAN EDUCATION

Bandar Sunway, 14 February 2019 – The Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) organised an Open Dialogue on Malaysian Education with YB Dr Maszlee Malik, Minister of Education and Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid, President, Malaysian Association for Education and Malaysian Council for Educational Management and Leadership in the morning session and in the afternoon session with YM Datuk Dr Syed Ali Tawfik al-Attas, former Director General, Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia (IKIM) with the theme “Bridging the Gaps Within: Empowering Education for the Future Generation” at the Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa.

In his ministerial keynote address, YB Dr Maszlee Malik emphasized the government’s shared vision with the private education sector and acknowledged the significant roles they played in the development of the country’s education system. The education minister also stressed on the government’s vision to create a more holistic education system by utilising various approaches namely by working closely with the private education sector in harnessing their strength of resources, facilities and expertise. The education minister also spoke of sharing ideas, encouraging collaborations and enhancing engagements between the public and private education sectors in creating a roadmap for private higher education institutions. He made a call for private education providers to work alongside the Ministry in ensuring the success of this policy.

Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO, the Chairman, ASLI, in his welcome address stressed the importance of continuous dialogue and co-operation between the government, public and private sectors in ensuring quality education is accessible to all of Malaysia’s future generation. Through the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, he personally pledged to disburse up to RM1billion in finding to empower education in his dedication towards nation building.

Meanwhile, in a special dialogue session with YB Dr Maszlee Malik, Minister of Education and Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid, President, Malaysian Association for Education and Malaysian Council for Educational Management and Leadership asserted that the onus for educational excellence lie not only in the government’s hand but also within the educators and the students themselves who must take the initiative to continually improve themselves. The first session was moderated by Professor Dr Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi, Professor of Architecture, UCSI University.

YM Datuk Dr Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas, former Director General, Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia (IKIM) provided insight into the need to incorporate subjects on humanities such as history and philosophy into the national education system which he believes would help to produce more holistic, ethical and moral individuals. The dialogue with YM Datuk Dr Syed Ali was moderated by Datuk Parmjit Singh, President of MAPCU.

This Open Dialogue gathered relevant stakeholders within the Malaysian education ecosystem on the same platform for discourse on the current state of our education system, the implementation of its policies and bridging the current gaps within to empower our young generation for the future, hence providing an impactful direction to Malaysia’s education policies, and an opportunity to network with other education providers, together driving the narrative of improving the quality of education in Malaysia.