TASK 1: ACADEMIC WRITING (30%)

1. Individually, you are required to identify and analyze issues on education in Malaysia
which leads to the formation of student well-being. Aspects of potential diversity of
students are given emphasis.
2. Relate issues on education in Malaysia through relevant reference sources.
3. The academic writing you produce should reflect the skills in organizing critical
thinking ideas and skills.
4. The length of academic writing for EDUP 3013 is 1000 words.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................................3

2.0 Issues on Education in Malaysia............................................................................................3

2.0.1 Constantly-changing Exam Formats..............................................................................3

2.0.2 Academic Pressure............................................................................................................4

2.0.3 More Content Does Not Mean More Learning..............................................................5

3.0 Conclusion...................................................................................................................................5

References.........................................................................................................................................6
Issues on Education in Malaysia Which Leads to the Formation of Student Well-being
and Aspects of Potential Diversity in Students are Given Emphasis

1.0 Introduction

A better education system is crucial in a developing country such as Malaysia. In this

assignment, I am extracting few issues on education in Malaysia which leads to the
formation of student well-being and aspects of potential diversity in students. Diversity
means the condition or fact of being different or varied (Cambridge University).
Meanwhile, potential is the latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to
future success or usefulness. In this context, potential diversity in students brings the
meaning of vary abilities of students in a classroom.

2.0 Issues on Education in Malaysia

2.0.1 Constantly-changing Exam Formats

This issue has been one of the top headlines on educational issues in Malaysia.
Malaysia has been shook with a new changes to the new Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM)
format to be introduced next year. “The changes to the format are due to the new
Standard Based Curriculum for Secondary Schools introduced in 2017,” said Education
Director-general Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim. It is important to obtain input from students,
parents and the public because people don't like it when something new is implemented.
It would be too late to make improvements to the method by the time they discover faults
with it.

For example, Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) was expected to be

scrapped, then it was agreed to keep it, but the test was based on 60% of the exam and
40% of the school. It was later moved back to 100% based on exams. These changes
are happening too frequently, confusing and often done at the last minute without proper
dissemination of information to teachers and parents. It confuses more on the students
especially those who are slow-learners. The minister of education should have concerns
 about the potential diversity of students in a classroom. When this changes happened
too frequently, students who are slow-learners will eventually lose their confident in their
studies as they know they would not pass the examinations.

2.0.2 Academic Pressure

The most common emotional or mental state faced by learners is academic stress.
Stress is the product of a wide variety of problems, including the burden of tests and
examinations. A difficult course, a new system of education, and thinking about potential
graduation plans. Most Malaysian students suffer from excessive stress. According to the
World Health Organization, stress is a vital concern of our times, which affects both
individuals’ physical and psychological well-being.
University students shared their thoughts on online classes during Movement
Controlled Order (MCO) that it is not all rainbows and sunshine (Rafidi, 2020). While the
change in learning is necessary for the time being as education is important regardless
of the big issue we are facing right now – Covid-19, but some students are having
difficulties in adapting to the sudden switch. Just because there are no final exams due,
the workload on assignments has been stacking up thrice as much compared to before
the pandemic. Most of the students are falling behind and they are mentally exhausted.
Imagined being given three assignments with the same date commence and due date,
moreover, the students are also given tutorials to be done. As what I observed, the
concept of learning has not been applied in these few months starting from March
because students are unable to focus on learning because they are focusing on
completing their assignments instead.

Meanwhile, in secondary school level, due to the changes in the format of Sijil
Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). They are few people voice out on the changes hoping that
there are good changes in the examinations format. “In fact, the ministry should adopt
university-style assessment because it is daunting to expect students to memorise two
years of work, ” said Fauzia Sultan, adding that learning should be fun as knowledge
was best acquired when students’ were not under pressure to perform. She hopes to see
evaluation-based coursework from Form Four to Form Five, rather than a one-off exam
in Form Five as a child’s ability should be measured through various aptitudes and not
through exams only. Not all students are able to memorize two years of learning.
Students are of potential diversity. [ CITATION San20 \l 1033 ]
2.0.3 More Content Does Not Mean More Learning

Students having a hard time trying to cope up with the syllabus of a subjects due to
load contents in a year. This leads the teachers focusing on syllabus to prepare for the
examinations instead of the students. They always act towards completing the subject
syllabus and preparing notes in time without giving any priority towards students. In
between sometimes they focus on merit students neglecting other students. This gives
negative impacts on students who can cope up with the syllabus and ended up failing in
the subjects. The education system running for the past decades didn’t take into
consideration the different kinds of intelligence that children can have – potential
diversity in students. Teaching on different types of students are also rarely applied
these days. This can be shown when Malaysia scored way below average for Reading,
Mathematics and Science in PISA 2018. Students are unable to score because of their
learning methods because the subjects are not being taught well enough.

3.0 Conclusion

In conclusion, better changes should be made to curb this issues on education in

Malaysia to meet students’ potential diversity and formation of their well-being. Minister
of Education should look up to this matters thoroughly for a better future in Malaysia’s
Education System.
References
Chandiran, Y. D. (8 May, 2020). Uni Students Share Their Thoughts On Online Classes
During MCO & It's Not All Rainbows And Sunshine. Retrieved from World of Buzz:
https://worldofbuzz.com/uni-students-share-their-thoughts-on-online-classes-during-
mco-its-not-all-rainbows-and-sunshine/

Hin, K. K. (2020). PISA 2018 and Malaysia. International Journal of Advanced Research in
Education and Society, 2(3), 12.

Malaysia Primary School Parents. (30 May, 2018). Some areas of concern in the current
education system. Retrieved from New Straits Time:
https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2018/05/374669/some-areas-concern-
current-education-system

Menon, S. (7 March , 2020). SPM fomat change must be useful . Retrieved from The Star:
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/07/spm-format-change-must-be-
useful

Rafidi, R. (18 February, 2020). Top 3 challenges for students . Retrieved from New Straits
Times: https://www.nst.com.my/education/2020/02/566671/top-3-challenges-students

Siti Fatimah Abdullah, N. A. (2020). Stress and Its Relationship with the Academic
Performance of Higher Instituition Students. International Journal of Advanced
Research in Education and Society, 2(1), 61.