Speech by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education at the Launch of the New Malay Language Primary Syllabus 2008, on Thursday, 26 April 2007, 2.00 pm at MOE Edutorium

SPEECH BY MR MASAGOS ZULKIFLI, SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AT THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW MALAY LANGUAGE PRIMARY SYLLABUS 2008, ON THURSDAY, 26 APRIL 2007, 2.00 PM AT MOE EDUTORIUM.

Associate Professor Dr Hadijah Rahmat
Head, Malay Department, Asian Languages and Culture, NIE/NTU

1. It gives me great pleasure to be with you this afternoon at the launch of the Malay Language Primary Syllabus and instructional materials.

MALAY LANGUAGE CURRICULUM AND PEDAGOGY REVIEW COMMITTEE
3. When I joined MOE in June last year, the Malay Language Curriculum and Pedagogy Review Committee (MLCPRC), chaired by Dr Hadijah Rahmat, had submitted its findings and recommendations. MOE accepted the major recommendations and we are now in the midst of implementing them in phases over the next few years.

VISION OF ARIF BUDIMAN
4. One of the recommendations was the proposed Malay Language vision of Arif Budiman – a learned person who contributes to the society. I am convinced that the vision would provide teachers and pupils the same direction in the learning and teaching of Malay Language.

MALAY LANGUAGE LEARNING AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE
5. As rightly recommended by the Committee too, the learning of Malay Language could not be shouldered by schools alone. The family, school, the media and the community, including Malay community organisations, must collaborate in creating broader language environment for pupils to use Malay and encourage them to continue using Malay even after school years. Hence, the setting up of the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC), which I am chairing, is apt to garner support from the community to provide a spectrum of activities that would support the wider use and learning of Malay Language.

NEW MALAY LANGUAGE SYLLABUS (PRIMARY)
6. Ladies and gentlemen, the synergy of teachers, principals, Master Teacher, lecturers from NIE and NUS and CPDD officers have brought about the publications of the New Malay Language Syllabus 2008 for Primary Schools and the new instructional materials (IMs), named MEKAR. The combination of academicians, school leaders, teachers and curriculum planners have resulted in the conceptualisation, design and the development of the syllabus and IMs that will benefit our primary Malay Language pupils immensely.

7. So, on behalf of MOE, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the teachers, school leaders and lecturers from IHLs and my warmest congratulations to all of you for having jointly delivered the new Malay Language syllabus and IMs.

8. In designing a new ML curriculum that is able to engage pupils to make Malay language a living language for them, the new ML Syllabus and IMs have introduced a number of key changes, guided by the vision of Arif Budiman. The syllabus framework encompasses four major elements. They are as follows:

a. Emphasis on listening and speaking skills at lower primary years;
b. Differentiated instruction;
c. TAHAP, or level of achievement in terms of achievable learning outcomes at key stages: P2, P4 and P6; and
d. Extensive reading programme.
(Each point is elaborated in the speech in Malay).

9. The Malay Language Unit will guide all teachers teaching Malay Language in primary schools on how to implement the new syllabus and IMs effectively through workshops. I am confident that our motivated and competent ML teachers would be able to deliver the objectives of the new ML syllabus well.

10. ML teachers have vital roles in nurturing a deep interest in and passion for Malay among our students. Teachers are encouraged to constantly think of new ways to engage students creatively and effectively in their classroom teaching.