We live in the digital age where change is the only constant. It is, therefore, very important for schools and educational institutions to change and modify their existing education systems to better reflect the new realities. This is just as true for the Malaysian education system which now focuses on student-centred learning. Education in Malaysia is now all about learner-centred learning. Schools in Malaysia now recognize that artificial intelligence in education is something that is going to have to become an integral part of the education system. That is the reason why many leading schools in the country provide their students access to the cutting-edge and modern Cambridge curriculum which is very well in tune with the needs of the digital age.
Let us look at four important ways in which education is changing in Malaysia.
A wider range of skills being taught
The days of unidimensional approach to education are over. These days there is a growing realisation that students need to develop a wider range of skills. It is not enough that somebody is good at science, they have to have other skills which one would normally expect of humanities students. For instance, somebody might be a brilliant software engineer but at the same time be an outstanding communicator.
Virtual education
Malaysia has shown the way to the world when it comes to facilitating virtual education. Known as the Digital Education Learning Initiative Malaysia, this program provides technology powered by Microsoft, Google and Apple via a single platform to schools allowing teachers to choose the service that best suits the purpose of providing remote classes to students. What’s more, the platform lets them access teaching resources like the National Library as well as digital books.
Life long education
The digital age has made lifelong learning practicable. University Malaya has stepped up to the plate in this regard by deciding to seriously consider ways and means of providing affordable ways of learning accessible to people interested in adding to their credentials and acquiring skills at whatever stage of life they may be at. Educational institutions ranging from schools to universities need to move with the times and provide education and learning by leveraging technology, to empower people to acquire the skills that will keep them relevant in today’s job market.
Educating and empowering rural communities
There is a concerted effort being made to reach out to the rural communities and ensure that they are not left out when it comes to receiving an education. A study conducted in Sarawak Malaysia showed how imparting information and technology skills can empower rural youth to enhance and better their socioeconomic status.
Conclusion
Education is changing everywhere at a fairly rapid clip, mirroring the seminal changes being ushered in by the technology revolution sweeping the world. There is no question that the way education was imparted in the past has been radically altered with the advent of technology in education. Going forward, we can expect education in schools, colleges and universities to be increasingly technology-driven and very dynamic reflecting the needs of the job market of the times.
It is up to the people in the education system and the government to ensure that every student has a fair chance of receiving the very best of modern cutting-edge education that ensures their employability when they graduate. Besides, they have to get used to the fact that lifelong learning is going to be the new normal in the times ahead. This is something that has impacted the education sector of Malaysia in a major fashion, as evidenced by the changes witnessed in the education policy followed by its schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions.
