Stop The Backward Class Label In Schools Says Education Minister

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Education minister Radzi Jidin says the ministry’s plan now is to produce students who grow up being confident in their own strengths. (Bernama pic)PUTRAJAYA: The classification of students according to their academic performance will have a psychological effect on schoolchildren and the education ministry is not happy with the practice.
Education minister Radzi Jidin stressed that the labelling of “kelas belakang” (backward) students in schools should not happen, especially at primary school level.
He said it was too early to label primary school students in certain categories as they were just developing their potential at that age.
“Personally, I believe that each human being is created with his or her own unique strengths, only we are sometimes not aware of it … maybe in the field of education they stand out less.
“We do not know where their potential may lie. That is why I always advise that there should be no labelling of ‘kelas depan’ (performing) or ‘kelas belakang’ (underperforming) students because this will have a psychological effect on our children,” he said in an interview with Bernama on “Malaysia Prihatin” Achievements of the ministry recently.
In this context, Radzi said the ministry would focus on an approach which optimises students’ potential, starting from primary school, in efforts to produce a generation that is confident of its own strengths.
He said that the focus of the ministry now was to unearth the potential of students based on their strengths and advantages, and develop their talents.
“This is one of the best spaces for us especially at the primary school level. We look at where their strengths lie so we can develop them and they can also optimise the strengths that they have.”
In another development, the minister said that there was increased response to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) among students who wanted to get space and opportunities in programmes offered in the field.
He said that the ministry’s intention was to ensure that TVET students received an education in line with current industry developments. - FMT

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