English Language Teaching (ELT)

Curriculum Reforms in Malaysia

Phase Two of ELT

curriculum reforms in
Malaysia (1970-1990)

Phase One of ELT

curriculum reforms in
Malaysia (1957-1970)

1. In relation to the ELT

curriculum, the syllabus
differs between the national
and national- type schools.
2. Three types of instructional
methods were used in the
early years namely the
grammar translation method,
direct method and situational
approach.
3. Students are basically drilled
to learn English especially
memorizing the grammar
rules.

5.

6.

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9.

The New Primary School Curriculum

(KBSR) was introduced in the year
1982 and the Integrated Secondary
School Curriculum (KBSM) in 1988.
The ELT curriculum at this point in
time emphasized communicative
approach.
The focus is on effective
communication.
Students are encouraged to
communicate right from the
beginning of the class.
Education Ministry introduced a new
English paper for the Sijil Pelajaran
Malaysia (SPM) examination.

Phase Three of ELT

curriculum reforms in
Malaysia (1990-2007)

1.

2.

3.

4.

ELT curriculum in Malaysia

underwent some transformation in
order to meet the demands of
globalization.
SPM examination paper formerly
known as English 122/322 was
upgraded to English 1119 in the year
1995.
In 2001, the literature component
was introduced to inculcate reading
habits as well as creative and critical
thinking skills in the students.
In 1998, the Ministry of Education
introduced the Malaysian University
English Test (MUET)

During the British colonial era,

schools used English as the
medium of instruction. This
continued after independence in
1957

Over the years, students'

academic performances
declined.

Some 14,000 teachers have

been enrolled on crash courses
in English. After school hours,
they take lessons online and
attend classes

The education ministry revealed

that 70 per cent of the country's
70,000 English teachers failed a
competency test to teach the
language

Malaysia's English language crisis:

GOVERNMENT ANXIOUS TO COUNTER
SLUMP IN TEST RESULTS BY LOCAL
STUDENTS

The ministry is now working

overtime to re-train thousands of
English teachers

Poor English is among the top

complaints that employers have
about fresh graduates.

The ministry recently announced

that from 2016 onwards,
students in Form Five - the
equivalent of a GCE O-level class
in Singapore - must pass English

In Malaysia, many schoolleavers, especially in rural areas,

cannot converse or write fluently
in English.

Last year, almost a quarter of

470,000 Form Five students
failed English, and only 16 per
cent of them scored highly in the
language.