Don T Wait Until 2027 To Give Teachers More Autonomy Govt Told

---

 
Last year, education minister Fadhlina Sidek said that teachers would be granted greater autonomy in rolling out new curriculum by 2027.
PETALING JAYA: An academic has urged the government to grant teachers greater autonomy in terms of rolling out new curriculum this year or by mid-2026 instead of waiting until 2027, as planned by the education ministry.
Wan Marzuki Wan Jaafar of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) said that delaying the transformation would only slow down critical reforms in the education system.
“In my opinion, we should not wait for 2027.
“If the support systems, training, and infrastructure are ready, implementation could be expedited to this year or, at the latest, 2026,” the dean of UPM’s education faculty told FMT.
However, he also emphasised the need for a phased implementation to ensure that stakeholders understand the policies involved, and to minimise the potential misuse of such autonomy.
Last May, education minister Fadhlina Sidek announced that teachers would be granted greater autonomy in rolling out new curriculum by 2027, accompanied by an emphasis on responsibility and integrity.
Wan Marzuki said decentralising the education system and granting teachers autonomy could reduce limitations on creativity, innovation, and educators’ ability to cater to student needs.
He added that such autonomy would enable teachers to design teaching approaches tailored to local contexts, with a focus on 21st-century skills like critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving.
“However, there needs to be a balance. Excessive autonomy without clear guidance could result in disparities in education quality between urban and rural areas,” he said.
To support this transition, he said it was important to equip teachers with skills in curriculum management and creative teaching methods, in addition to robust monitoring to ensure quality and effectiveness.
Stakeholder engagement crucial
Anuar Ahmad of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) meanwhile urged the government to start engaging with stakeholders now.
Anuar, the deputy director of UKM’s Center for Sustainable and Inclusive Development Studies, said early preparations and consultation should begin immediately to address any concerns that might arise.
“We want to see the government’s commitment to granting autonomy to teachers. If the goal is to implement it in 2027, the engagement process must start now, discussing the concept of autonomy so that progress becomes visible.
“The problem now is that people don’t see any progress,” he said.
However, he welcomed the ministry’s commitment to implementing the policy, which he said could liberate the education system from the centralised administrative model inherited from colonial rule.
Anuar said the new policy would also align with rapid technological advancements, requiring teachers to be more creative and innovative in delivering education.
“This move will make education more dynamic and responsive to local needs, and encourage greater innovation among teachers, accelerating children’s learning progress,” he said. - FMT

---