History subject is Compulsory to pass SPM Examination by year 2013

Posted on May 4, 2011 by admin

PUTRAJAYA : A special committee has been setup to review the History curriculum and school text book following the last year decision to make History a compulsory pass subject in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination from 2013. The 12-member committee is chaired by former deputy education director-general Datuk Omar Mohd Hashim.
The committee’s terms of reference are to:

• Determine the direction of the History curriculum developemnt in realising the current needs and future challenges;
• Study the suitability of the present curriculum’s content and textbook with the impact of learning History which stresses on unity and patriotism;
• Review the accuracy in the facts contained in the curriculum and textbook; and
• Make recommendations based on the review and present them in a report to the ministry.

The committee which met for the first time at the Education Ministry yesterday has been given a year to complete the task. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who had appointed the committee in his capacity as education minister, briefly attended the meeting.
In line with the move to make History a compulsory core subject, the ministry said the country’s history should be taught so that students can understand and appreciate the spirit of unity and solidarity as Malaysians.
Other committee members are:

1. Universiti Teknologi MARA dean of Administrative Science and Policy Studies Faculty Prof Datuk Dr Ramlah Adam (deputy chairman)
2. historian Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim (Univeristi Malaya)
3. pre-historian Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Nik Hassan Suhaimi Nik Abdul Rahman (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia)
4. Prof Dr Danny Wong Tze Ken (UM)
5. Prof Dr Ranjit Singh (Universiti Utara Malaysia)
6. Assoc Prof Dr Ismail Ali (Universiti Malaysia Sabah)
7. Assistant Prof Dr Shamrahayu Abdul Aziz (International Islamic University Malaysia)
8. Dr Neilson Ilan Mersat (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak)
9. Dr Benedict Topin (Kadazandusun Cultural Association)