Khat Writing What S The Worth To The Standard 4 Bahasa Melayu Pupils

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Khat writing which will be introduced to Standard 4 Bahasa Melayu school students in vernacular schools next year has been gaining tremendous interest after Education Minister Maszlee Malik claimed it will be implemented although various groups are objecting to the motive behind in 'bulldozing' the syllabus without getting the consent of all the stakeholders.

Maszlee had initially claimed that it will help the primary school pupils tremendously in their writing skills.

Then two days ago, Maszlee sprang a surprise that since the Malaysian Ringgit that is in circulation now does comprise the khat or jawi writing, and since it is used by everyone, introducing khat writing to Standard 4 Bahasa Melayu class pupils should not be opposed by anyone. Maszlee fail to realize that stakeholders were never consulted on the khat or jawi writing appearing in the Malaysian Ringgit while most Malaysians were of their opinion that it was done as waterproof marking, an added security measure to overcome faking the Malaysian currency.

I need to concur with former Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim that it should be taught at a free time, like Saturday classes to those interested and should not be incorporated in the Standard 4 Bahasa Melayu textbooks.

There was another writer, Fa Abdul who claimed that the Education Ministry had introduced many new topics while wasting many man-hours to educate their teachers on how to teach these topics and after a while it was totally withdrawn leaving students let down in securing these new added knowledge.

Even the blogger OutSyed the Box, wrote that Maszlee while in school never learnt Khat in his Bahasa Melayu lesson while surely his father would not have learned Khat at school too.

There were many more other writers who had expressed their approval and disapproval to the introduction of Khat writing to Standard 4 Bahasa Melayu pupils.

Maszlee further informed that students would not be tested on this khat writing skills.

Agama students in schools are already been taught how to read, understand and write Jawi (khat) since it will greatly help Muslim students to read and understand the Holy Koran.

It is reported today that DPM Wan Azizah and UMNO Wanita chief Noraini Ahmad claiming that Khat should be viewed as an art form, so why not incorporate Khat in the Art class syllabus and not taught in the Standard 4 Bahasa Melayu syllabus.

Maszlee when he was appointed Education Minister had informed that a total revamp of the education system will be undertaken so that the education system to be introduced will cater a school leaver to be equipped with the required digital and technical skills knowledge needed in their working lives.

Rather than concentrating on revamping the education system he introduces 'black shoes' and now 'khat writing'. These two have no real knowledge or economical value to the students when they seek employment when they leave school.

If this is the way Maszlee conducts his duties, Pakatan Harapan (PH) will surely be a one-term government. - Mohd Kamal Abdullah

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