The Hon. M.A.M. Thahir

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to participate in today’s debate on the adjournment motion regarding education reform. The Hon. Prime Minister, as our Education Minister, has sought expert advice to bring changes to the education system. Today, through this adjournment debate, the views of people’s representatives are also being heard.

¶ 03 In Islam, when the Almighty revealed the Qur’an to guide the world, the very first revealed verse was “Iqra” — “Read!” That is, “Learn!” From the outset, our faith emphasized the value of knowledge. Around the world, changes occur in education; our system too must be reformed. The current reform must not reduce education to mere credentialism. As a Member noted, rather than producing students who only recite results, we must produce students with discipline and culture. We must also produce a society fluent in all three languages.

¶ 04 Do local job opportunities match what our students learn? No. Many must go abroad to find work. Therefore, we must reform education to align with the job market. This morning, the Hon. President spoke of many matters grounded in the needs of ordinary people and called for change in education. We thank him.

¶ 05 Change must also come to teachers, not just students. The magnanimity once seen among teachers is lacking now for many reasons: transfers, long commutes after teaching, cost of living, etc. We must provide teachers better pay to offset these burdens, recruit on merit, and provide strong training. If we pay teachers at SLEAS-equivalent levels when appropriate, they will teach happily, behave with culture towards students and discuss matters with them in a healthy mindset.

¶ 06 Further, how can a graduate who studied internally and externally and passed with 40 credits help schoolchildren to achieve 100 marks? Give teachers the best training. By improving teaching competence, we can transform students and build a disciplined society. I conclude. Thank you.