COMMENT The Education Blueprint acknowledges that standards in the country have deteriorated so seriously that we have fallen into the bottom third amongst countries in the global indices that measure achievements in maths, science and other such basic competencies. Our achievements have even fallen below that of Thailand.

Like blueprints of the past, including ‘Vision 2020', this latest effort is full of the language of educational correctness - ‘improving access to education, raising standards (quality), closing achievement gaps (equity), promoting unity amongst students, and maximising system efficiency ...’

Sounds good but can it deliver? Allow me to allude to some blind spots and contradictions that I have noticed. These have impeded Malaysian education and national unity for many years and unless remedied, we will surely not achieve the noble aims of the blueprint.