Why Malaysia Education System Is A Failure?

Summary

The video script discusses Malaysia's underwhelming performance in the 2022 PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), highlighting a significant drop in scores compared to regional peers, including Vietnam. It attributes the decline to the pandemic and lockdowns but also points to deeper issues within the education system, such as the quality of teachers and early education. The speaker, a parent, emphasizes the importance of improving educational outcomes for the nation's future productivity and economic growth, suggesting a focus on teacher training and curriculum quality rather than language debates. The video also touches on the impact of education on GDP and the need for a merit-based system to incentivize teacher performance.

Takeaways

• 📉 Malaysia's education system has been performing below average, with the 2022 PISA scores showing a significant drop, even falling behind Vietnam.
• 🚫 The pandemic and lockdowns were cited as reasons for the decline in performance, but this excuse is questioned as other countries faced similar challenges without such a steep drop.
• 📚 The Prime Minister of Malaysia has acknowledged the poor performance and called for an end to excuses, emphasizing the need to improve the education system, particularly in STEM subjects and English.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 As a parent, the speaker agrees with the Prime Minister, wanting the best education for children who will be the future workforce and contributors to Malaysia's economy.
• 💹 Studies suggest that the education level of citizens can impact a nation's GDP, indicating that the decline in Malaysia's education could have broader economic consequences.
• 🔍 The speaker investigates the PISA assessment, which is a worldwide test conducted by the OECD to measure the scholastic ability of 15-year-old students in science, maths, and reading.
• 📝 The speaker's staff attempted the PISA test, highlighting that the assessment is not easy, with only 1% of Malaysian students able to complete level five and six in mathematics.
• 👩‍🏫 The quality of teachers in Malaysia is identified as a major issue, with reports indicating that many teachers are underqualified and not meeting the required standards.
• 📈 The implementation of teaching STEM subjects in English was a step in the right direction, but the execution was flawed, leading to a widening gap between urban and rural students' performance.
• 🌐 The speaker suggests that the focus should be on improving the quality of education and the teachers' capacity, rather than arguing over the language of instruction.
• 🤝 The Education Minister's quote on education as a tool for national unity is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the root causes of educational issues to improve Malaysia as a whole.

Q & A

What was Malaysia's performance in the 2022 PISA scores?

Malaysia performed below average, with a score drop of more than 6%, placing it behind regional peers including Vietnam.

How did the pandemic affect Malaysia's PISA scores?

The pandemic led to school closures and lockdowns, which negatively impacted the performance of Malaysian students, although other countries faced similar challenges.

What was the Prime Minister's response to the PISA scores?

The Prime Minister acknowledged the poor performance and called for no more excuses, emphasizing the need to improve Malaysia's education system.

Why is the PISA score important for Malaysia's future?

The PISA score reflects the quality of education, which in turn affects the nation's GDP and the ability of its citizens to support the economy.

What is the PISA assessment and how is it conducted?

PISA is a worldwide assessment by the OECD that measures the scholastic ability of 15-year-old students in science, maths, and reading.

What was the outcome of the office staff's PISA test?

The office staff were tested on reading level five, and the results varied, showing that the PISA assessment is not easy.

What is the issue with early education in Malaysia?

A significant number of students below 10 years old struggle with reading, writing, or interpreting sentences, which is a fundamental skill necessary for problem-solving.

What is the problem with the quality of teachers in Malaysia?

Many teachers are underqualified and lack the necessary training, which affects the overall quality of education.

What was the government's attempt to improve STEM education?

The government tried to teach STEM subjects in English, but the implementation was poor, leading to a wide gap in performance between urban and rural students.

What is the suggested solution to improve Malaysia's education system?

The focus should be on improving teacher quality, providing proper training, and ensuring they are passionate and qualified to teach.

What is the role of language in Malaysia's education system?

The debate over whether to teach in English or Bahasa has been divisive, but the key is to focus on students' ability to understand and solve problems, regardless of the language used.