BASIS FOR THE FORMATION OF NATIONAL EDUCATION

BOOK NAME
Topic 4
BASIS FOR THE
FORMATION OF NATIONAL
EDUCATION
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BASIS FOR THE FORMATION OF NATIONAL EDUCATION

BASIS FOR THE FORMATION OF NATIONAL EDUCATION

STRUCTURE

4.1.THE DRAFTING PROCESS OF THE EDUCATION ACT

4.1.1.The idea behind the education Act
4.2.THE HISTORY OF DRAFTING OF THE 1961-1996 EDUCATION ACTS
4.2.1. A walk through the phase (1961-1996)
4.3. FORMULATION PROCESSES OF EDUCATION ACTS IN MALAYSIA
4.3.1. The process of formulating an Education Act
4.4. BASIS OF FORMULATION OF EDUCATION ACTS IN MALAYSIA

BASIS FOR THE FORMATION OF NATIONAL EDUCATION

Basis for the Formation o

TOPIC

BASIS FOR THE FORMATION OF NATIONAL EDUCATION

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this topic, you should be

able to:
State the national philosophy of
education
Explain the process of drafting of
education Act 1961
Illustrate the history of Education Act
1961-1996
Analyse the formulation of processes
of Education act-1961
Justify the basis of formulation of

INTRODUCTIO N
National Philosophy of Education:
Education in Malaysia is an ongoing effort towards further developing the potential
of individuals in a holistic and integrated manner so as to produce individuals who
are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced and harmonious,
based on a firm belief in and devotion to God. Such an effort is designed to produce
Malaysian citizens who are knowledgeable and competent, who possess high moral
standards, and who are responsible and capable of achieving a high level of
personal well-being as well as being able to contribute to the betterment of the
family, the society and the nation at large.

Colonial Education system lacked the nurturing and development of cultural

sensitivities of the various communities in the state of Malaya. Several committees
and policies were framed and reviewed, post-independence, in order to ensure the
political, social, economic development of multi-ethnic Malaysia.

The policies went on to transform into the legislative acts.

The Education act 1961, the Educations Act 1996, the private higher Education Act
1996, the National Council of Higher Education 1996, National Accreditation
Board Act 1996, Universities and University Colleges (Amendment) Act-1996
were just the starting of the big leap of Malaysia towards the progress and
development.
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4.1

THE DRAFTING PROCESS OF THE EDUCATION ACT

Quality education for quality human capital was one of the most sought after
dimension by the Malaysian government, post 1960. Policymaking in Malaysia
underwent several stages every decade.

Id e n tifi c a
tio n o f
P ro b le m

E v a lu a t io
n o f th e
p ro g re s s

Recom m en
d a t io n s o f
s o lu t io n s

Im p le m e n t
a t io n o f
s o lu t io n s
Figure 4.1: Steps in Policy Making

4.1.1

The idea behind the education Act

British education system had enforced English as a compulsory language and an

education system, which did not contain any national interests. Education policy
ought to be the representative of a nations sensitivities. The nations development
demanded an education system with the essence of nationalism and patriotism.
Education was the only way to plot Malaysia on the world Map.
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What else would be the apt representative of the Malayan sentiment but the infusion of

national language Malaya in the education system?

An Education Policy was drafted after considering all these factors, and it was the backbone
of the Education Act 1961, on the recommendations of Rahman Talib Committee (1960)
that was a supplement to the Razak Report 1956.

Drafting Process of Education Act necessarily meant:

o

A committee formed under the leadership of Rahman Talib, the first Prime
Minister post-independence, to propose recommendations.

Several Experts from the National Union of the teacher profession gave their
inputs.

Finally, a proposed policy was put forth for the Cabinet approval. The Cabinet
represented a group of ministers from the National Front Party.

The Education Policy was executed and held strong due to the Education Act
1961.

4.2

THE HISTORY OF DRAFTING OF THE 1961-1996

EDUCATION ACTS

The education Act 1961 brought in a revolution to promote Malaya as the national
language and to preserve the heritage of other languages. It was one of the
stepping-stones to the journey forward.
4.2.1

A walk through the phase (1961-1996)

The systematic preparation of Malaysia for global competitiveness is given below.

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ET hd eu c p a rt ivo an t ea cH t i g1 h9 e6 r1 E d u c a t i o n s A c t 1 9 6
NU na tvioe nr sa ilt CAe cos uarne cdiltUoa fn Hov nieg rBhs eoitray ECd oAulceagt i1os9n ( A16 9m e6n d m e n t ) A c t ,1 9 6
Figure 4.2: History of Education Acts

DID YOU KNOW

Malaysia constitutes of 13 states and 3 federal
territories.

ACTIVITY
Name the various Prime Ministers of Malaysia in
a chronological order and recall their
contribution to the education system.

4.3

FORMULATION PROCESSES OF EDUCATION

ACTS IN MALAYSIA

The project of policy formation has to undergo four stages of legal action,
proper planning, a program charter and finally it can be formulated into an
act.
We look at the deeper understanding of how the education act of 1961 was
formulated and the parties involved.

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4.3.1

The process of formulating an Education Act

Steps for formulation of an act

o

Ministry of Education, in association with Attorney Generals office (public

administrators), drafted an education bill in two versions Malaya and English.

A memo for justifying the bill was sent to the related ministries for advisory
recommendations.

After the recommendations, the drafted bill, and the memorandum were
presented to the Cabinet.

Once the cabinet approved the bill, the decision was conveyed to the ministry of
the concerned department, and the ministers.

After the bill had been ratified by both the houses, it was submitted to King
Yang Di Pertuan Agong, for his assent.

The bill was a law that was conveyed to the ministers and the nation as a whole.

TIPS
Making a chart of your own of the events in
history is an easy method of memorising the
dates.

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4.4

BASIS OF FORMULATION OF EDUCATION

ACTS IN MALAYSIA

The National Philosophy of education, which was adopted by Malaysia post-independence

is a vision it had for the development of the nation and forms the basis of formulation of
Education Acts in Malaysia.

The philosophy mentioned the ongoing mission of education towards the intellectual,
spiritual, emotional development of God loving individuals who can contribute to the
nation with their share of knowledge and high moral standards by achieving a higher level
of being2.

Therefore, this philosophy was captured into the various policies that were put forth by
various reports.

Malay was made compulsory for primary and secondary education by Education Act 1961,
as growth in education through a native language was easier than in a foreign language. At
that time, it was a story changing and a path breaking decision, as the nation wanted
educated people rather than English speakers.

The education Act 1996 was conceptualised for the need to bring in all the levels of
education under one common roof of national education, with impetus on value education
and teacher education as well.

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The dire need to mould individuals into skilled professionals could not have been a reality
but with the transformation of colleges into universities and so the
The Private Higher Education Institutions Act, 1996 became inevitable3.

A national body dedicated to co-ordinate, manage and supervise the development

of tertiary education was required. Hence, the National Council of Higher

Education Act 1996 was conceived and implemented.
National Accreditation Board Act, 1996 and Universities and University Colleges
(Amendment) Act, 1996 were the results of efforts to set up a board to ensure highquality education delivered and controlled both public and private higher
educational levels, and to lend the universities the autonomy of administration,
respectively.

Thus, the Education policies and the acts that followed were an apt adaptation
towards the national philosophy of education.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Explain the basis of Education Acts in
1996.

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SUMMARY

Education is the power of a growing nation.

Malaysia, after freedom, had an outlook to educate every child in the

easiest way possible.

English as a compulsory subject had made the outlook a far-fetched

dream, during colonial period.

Post independence, the whole emphasis for a nations development was

on the education system. This led to the process of formulating various
reports. Eventually, the Education Act 1961 was formulated wherein
the basic objective of Malay language as a medium of instruction was
finally on papers.

Making Malay as a compulsory language for primary and secondary

schools, opened doors to many for education.

Education policies underwent an umpteen number of changes and the

acts, namely, The Private Higher Education Institutions Act, 1996,
National Accreditation Board Act, 1996 and Universities and University
Colleges (Amendment) Act, 1996 are the testimonies to nation building
through education.

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KEY TERMS
The Education Act 1961
The Education Act 1996
The Private Higher Education Institutions Act, 1996

National Accreditation Board Act, 1996

Universities and University Colleges (Amendment) Act, 1996
Education System
Educational Policy
National Language

EXERCISES
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Name all the education acts formed in the year 1996.
2. Explain the reason behind the need for formulating the Education Acts.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Describe the basis of formulation of Education policies and acts in Malaysia.
2. Explain the drafting process of Education Act 1961.
3. Illustrate the history of Education Act from 1961-1996.

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NOTES
REFERENCES

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1 JOHN LAH BOH YONG. (2003). THE ROLES OF THE MALAYSIAN

GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUSIC
EDUCATION. Retrieved from http://etd.fcla.edu/UF/UFE0000829/yong_j.pdf
2Human Rights Education in Schools: The Malaysian Experience |
. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.hurights.or.jp/archives/human_rights_education_in_asian_schools
/section2/1999/03/human-rights-education-in-schools-the-malaysianexperience.html
3 Study Malaysia. (n.d.). Student Info & Guide. Retrieved from
www.studymalaysia.com/education/0
4 DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAL REPORT MALAYSIA. (n.d.). Retrieved
from http://www.ibe.unesco.org/International/ICE/natrap/Malaysia.pdf