EDUCATION ACT

1996
EDU3093

When you are willing to make sacrifices for a

great cause, you will never be alone.

The Legal Framework of

Education
Recent legislations on education formulated to
achieve democratization of education:
The Education Act 1996; The Private Higher
Educational
Institutions Act, 1996; National Council on Higher
Education Act, 1996;
National Accreditation Board Act, 1996; Universities
and University
Colleges (Amendment) Act, 1996; and National
Higher Education Fund
Board Act, 1997.

EDUCATION ACT
1996
Nation mission to produce education
system with world standard quality to
develop individuals potential and
to achieve the nations aspiration

The Education Act 1996

The Education Act, 1996 repealed the
Education Act 1961. It is the parent
legislation on education and covers all
levels of education under the national
education system (except international
schools). The Act stipulates
the use of the national language as the main
medium of instruction,
a national curriculum, and
common public examinations.

The Education Act 1996

Provides for pre-school education,
primary school education, secondary
school education, post-secondary
education, teacher education, special
education, private education, and
technical education.
Gives greater prominence to values in
education and aims to ensure
relevance and quality in the education
system

The Education Act 1996

Section 18 of the Act stipulates the use of a National
Curriculum to be used by all schools.
18 (1) The Minister shall prescribe a curriculum to be known as the
National
Curriculum which, subjects to subsection (3), shall be used by all
schools in the National Education System.
(2) The National Curriculum prescribed under subsection(1)shall
specify
the knowledge, skills and values that are expected to be acquired
by
pupils at the end of their respective periods of schooling and shall
include the core subjects as set out in Schedule and such are the
subjects as may be prescribed.

The Education Act 1996

3) In the case of private schools, subsection (1) shall be
deemed
to have been complied with if the core subjects of the
National Curriculum as set out in Schedule are taught in
the
schools
(4) The Minister may from time to time by order published in
the Gazette to amend or alter the Schedule.

In the Education (National Curriculum) Regulations

1997, the National Curriculum is defined as :
an educational program that includes curricular
and co-curricular activities which emphasizes all
the knowledge or skills, norms, values, cultural
elements and beliefs to help develop a pupil fully
with respect to the physical, spiritual, mental and
emotional aspects as well as to inculcate and
develop desirable moral values and to transmit
knowledge

NATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

15

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

Main contents in the Education

Act 1996
BM as national language
National Curriculum
Islamic Teaching
Student Assessment and Testing
School Management
Power of The Minister To Make Rules
Fines and Compound

10

Main Contents of Education Act

1996
Medium of instruction is Bahasa
Kebangsaan -Section 17 (1)
Bahasa Kebangsaan is taught as
compulsory subject - Section 17
(2)

11

National Education System

1. Preschool
Educationchildren age
4-6 yrs.

2.Primary
School
Education6years (P1
P6)

4. Post Secondary
School
- Form 6
- Matriculation

3. Secondary School
Education
-Lower Secondary
(F1-F3)
- Upper Secondary
(F4-F5)

5. Higher
Education
Institute (IPT)
-Diploma
- Degree

National Education System

Types of Schools
2.
1. National Governmen
t Aided
School
Schools

3.
Private
School
s

Teaching Islamic Education

Minimum students of 5 or more
-Section 50 (1)
Minimum 2 hours a week - Sect. 50
(2)
Officer involve - Section 50 (3) and
(4)
Islamic Education Institute that is not
under the Minister of Edu/State Govt
can get funding from the Parliament 14

Ministers Power
The Minister has the power making rules in
implementing the act Section 130

The procedure in students enrolment

Semester break for education Institutes

Registration procedure for IPG

Students discipline

National Curriculum

Student association

Others
15

Implications in enforcement of
Education Act 1996
Institutionalisation of preschool in national
school system
Expanding education opportunity
Expanding the Private Higher Education
Institution
Providing advice for the implementation of
public higher learning institute (IPTA)
16

Implications in enforcement of
Education Act 1996
Corporatization of IPTA to provide for greater autonomy in
management and finances and in determining programmes
for educational excellence
the National Accreditation Council Act to ensure high
academic standards, high quality assurance and quality
control in the provision of private higher education
teacher qualification being upgraded from certificate to
diploma; the establishment of matriculation and community
colleges; and
Upgraded of ITM to university
Assurance of assistance for students in the higher learning
institute through PTPTN
17

GROUP DISCUSSION
1.

The Education Act 1996 is to drive change in achieving the mission

and vision of the country. It is also capable of expressing high-quality
educators.
a . Explain the positive effects of the implementation of Education Act
1996 on the National Education System
b. Section 17(2) of the Education Act 1996 provides for the Malay
language as a compulsory subject in all schools in Malaysia.
Describe the effects of the Section 17(2), Education Act 1996 on the
education system of the country
c. Explain with examples the importance of Bahasa Kebangsaan as
the main medium of instruction in public school
d. Discuss the implications of Education Act 1996 on National
Education System