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Although the emphasis was on the present and changes for the future, the audience at the 11th Perdana Discourse Series was urged not to turn a blind eye to history and values.

VISIONS and goals often present themselves as double-edged swords.

By setting the bar – and a time frame to match – a dream enables one to aspire to achieve a greater good, bringing out the best in one’s self.

Not limited to individuals, a vision’s propensity to excite and disappoint also affects nations.

Unveiled during the tabling of the Sixth Malaysia Plan in 1991, Vision 2020 gave many a citizen good reason to look forward to the future, but in the middle of 2010, optimism may not be the best way to describe the feel of the general public.

ALL SMILES: Prof Sahol (left) exchanging the MoU documents with Nik Mohamed (right). Looking on are Muhyiddin (second from left) and Tan Sri Azman Hashim, the chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees.

To many, it will take nothing short of a transformation for Malaysia to get there, but Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is undaunted by the seemingly monumental task.

In fact, his optimism was no secret when he addressed a 350-strong audience, comprising university students, academicians, government officials, private sector representatives and the public, at the recent 11th Perdana Discourse Series.

Muhyiddin reiterated the nation’s target: to become a high-income nation with per-capita income of RM55,000 — a big jump from the present RM22,700.

by Richard Lim.

Read more @ http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2010/7/4/education/6583982&sec=education

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will review the education system to produce talent needed for an advanced nation and also offer perks to lure home highly-skilled Malaysians and retain global talent to develop a quality workforce.

At the same time, it will reduce reliance on cheap unskilled foreign labour by imposing equal labour standards for local and foreign labour and a levy for unskilled foreigners in line with sector needs.

These are among measures outlined in Part One of the New Economic Model (NEM) unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Tuesday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak delivering his keynote address at the Invest Malaysia 2010 conference at the Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur today.

The NEM sounds a blunt warning that Malaysia’s human capital is reaching a “critical stage” because of a lack of talent development, rapidly rising migration of skilled Malaysians and declining numbers of expatriates coming here.

Stressing that people are the most valuable asset in a fiercely competitive globalised world, the NEM says Malaysia must retain and attract talent to compete on a regional and global scale.

“Malaysia must be seen by its people and others as a land of equal opportunity to earn a good living and provide a secure, happy life for each individual and the family,” it says.

It notes that 80% of the local workforce are only educated up to Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia and complaints of inadequate creativity and English proficiency are among the top obstacles faced by companies, according to a study on Malaysia’s investment climate.

Among the measures proposed by NEM are:

* review the education system to shift from rote learning to creative and critical thinking;

* increase emphasis on reintroducing technical and vocational training colleges;

* enhance English language proficiency;

* deliver high-quality education within reach of all localities;

* upgrade skills of the Malaysian workforce with continuing education and training;

* establish a safety net for displaced workers;

* formalise international quality standards and skills certification;

* allow wage levels to be reflective of skill level;

* review existing programmes to attract highly-skilled Malaysians to return home;

* offer permanent residence for ex-Malaysians and their families;

* centralised oversight of foreign labour and expatriates to enable coherent practice; and

* simpler work permit and immigration procedures.

The NEM says greater use of foreign talent will increase the demand for Malaysians to upgrade their skills, while the ensuing combination of global and domestic talent will generate higher production and lead to more robust wage raise.

“Another barrier that has to be addressed is the regulation of professional associations which prohibit domestic employment of foreign professionals.

“This is a critical issue since Malaysia’s policies are unusually restrictive compared with other East Asian countries.

“Without substantial inflows of foreign talent, firms do not have the incentive to move up the value chain but still have to cope with wage cost pressures,” it says.

To remove labour market distortions that hinder wage growth, the NEM suggests the revision of the legislation and institutional framework for hiring and firing practices.

Workers, not jobs, should be protected through a stronger safety net and a labour market flexibility should be encouraged while pay rise should be based on productivity and not regulation. – Bernama

Source:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/30/neweconomicmodel/20100330122103&sec=neweconomic

The National Education Blueprint (2006-2010) was released in December 2006. June Ramli (NST, 18 January 2007) stated that the school environment is set to undergo a drastic change. According to him, if the National Education Blueprint (2006-2010) is successfully implemented, schools may even resemble univeristy in three years.

The blueprint among other things, seek  to address some of the weaknesses in education such as :

• 10% of primary schools and 1.4% of secondary schools do not have a 24 hour electricity supply.
• 20% of primary schools and 3.4% of secondary schools do not have a public water supply.
• 78% of primary schools and 42% of secondary school buildings are over 30 years old and require refurbishing.
• 4.4% of primary students and 0.8 % of secondary students had not mastered the 3R’s – reading, writing and arithmetic.
• The drop-out rate for secondary schools in urban areas was 9.3% and in rural areas was stated as 16.7%

GOALS OF NATIONAL EDUCATION BLUEPRINT :

• Establishing a National Pre-school Curriculum.
• Setting up 100 new classes for students with special needs.
• Increasing the percentage of single-session schools to 90% in secondary schools by 2010.
• To address the problem of racial polarisation in schools.

SIX STRATEGIC THRUSTS OF NATIONAL EDUCATION BLUEPRINT:

• To build a Malaysian nation.
• To develop human capital.
• To empower national schools.
• To bridge the education gap.
• To enhance the status of the teaching profession.
• To upgrade the excellence of educational institutions.

The then Education Ministry’s Chief Inspector of schools (presently the Director General ) Y. Bhg. Dato’ Hj. Alimuddin b. Hj. Mohd. Dom stated that when fully implemented, the blueprint will result in a massive shift in the education system to make students more confident, creative and innovative.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Malaysia