11 Appointed To Education Advisory Council For 2014-2016

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- Eleven people prominent in various fields have been appointed as members of the National Education Advisory Council (MPPK) for 2014-2016, effective Aug 1.

They are Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Pro-Chancellor and former director-general of education Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad, who will also chair the council; National Council of Professors chairman Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid; National Population and Family Development Board chairman Tan Sri Napsiah Omar; Islamic Dakwah Foundation of Malaysia president Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki; Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan; Gazprom Marketing & Trading Pte Ltd (Singapore) Asia Pacific managing director Datuk Mohammad Medan Abdullah.

Universiti Tun Abdul Razak founder Datuk Hassan Harun; Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah; Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) principal research fellow Datuk Prof Dr Teo Kok Seong; UKM Institute of Ethnic Studies principal research fellow Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria and Sekolah Menengah Sri KDU principal Datin Ong Guan Siew or better known as Datin A.K. Chan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin handed them their letters of appointment in Putrajaya, Tuesday.

At the event, Muhyiddin said the roles of MPPK would be standardised, which also saw the increase in the number of its members to 11 from nine previously, in line with the merger of Education Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry.

He said the council would play a role in providing advice on matters concerning national education, right from pre-school to tertiary level, compared to only up to secondary level previously.

"It is hoped that these new MPPK members, with their various backgrounds and expertise, will be able to give their professional opinions and advice in education-related matters to assist the ministry in ensuring success of the National Education Blueprint (PPPM) 2013-2025 and the National Higher Education Strategic Plan (PSPTN)," he said.

The deputy prime minister said the importance of the setting up of the council was stipulated under the Education Act 1961 and was further emphasized under Section 10 of the Education Act 1996 (Act 550).

He said he would personally chair the council's meeting for at least twice a year to listen to their views and advice concerning national education, especially on the implementation of PPPM and PSPTN, as well as on the continuity of education from primary, secondary and up to tertiary level.

"We practise quite an open concept. Although we have certain policies which we implement upon Cabinet approval and based on the law, we always remain open because education is a very dynamic process and it changes everytime," he said.

Muhyiddin said the ministry had also carried out review on PSPTN, which would be renamed as the Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint 2015-2025 and scheduled to be launched at the end of this year.

The deputy prime minister also expressed appreciation to former members of the council led by Tan Sri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Mohd Noordin, who he described as having made a huge contribution when they submitted the memorandum for a review on the national education and the setting up a committee that came out with the PPPM.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman described his appointment as a huge challenge since various problems and issues in the education sector need to be addressed.

Abdul Rahman, who is also Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Pro-Chancellor, said this would include the effort to put a balance in the distribution of aid to schools in urban and rural areas across the country.

"I see this as a huge challenge and may take some time, but I also see the council comprises people prominent in various fields.

"We will try to improve and give our level best (to the effort)," he told reporters after receiving his letter of appointment from Muhyiddin.

Abdul Rahman said the scope of their duties was huge as they must look into educational issues from the pre-school level up to higher education level and the continuity at each level.

The former director-general of Education also said that among the issues that should be given extra attention were school curriculum and trainings for teachers.

"Education must have several objectives, including developing national economy, social and humanitarian, as well as spiritual and responsibility. So, this must be given more emphasis," he said.