The education system came under scrutiny in the Dewan Rakyat, as Barisan Nasional members of Parliament questioned the single-dimensional approach to teaching.

Teng Boon Soon (BN-Tebrau) described the examination-oriented approach as a weakness in that it has neglected character building.

He said there were insufficient initiatives to instill values such as integrity and responsibility in students.

Razali Ismail (BN-Kuala Terengganu) agreed that the current system emphasises the "product", and cautioned that good academic performance alone will not guarantee excellence in personality.

Paradigm shift

He called for a revamp of the education system, saying that schools should be seen as "a nursery".

"We need a paradigm shift," said Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam), who also noted the need for improved leadership skills among students.

He suggested a holistic approach to develop well-rounded students who are active in co-curricular activities, also saying that 10 percent of the admission criteria into tertiary institutes could be based on co-curricular assessment.

Jimmy Donald (BN-Sri Aman) pointed out the shortage of teachers in national and vernacular schools. He called for qualified Mandarin teachers to be based in national schools, to encourage enrolment.