A task force will be formed for the implementation of the Malaysia Education Blueprint to ensure all recommendations made in the final report meet the people's hopes and aspiration, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said the decision to set up the task force was reached following a cabinet meeting.

It will be chaired by Muhyiddin himself with the other members coming from the Finance Ministry, Public Service Department, Human Resource Ministry, Higher Education Ministry, the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) and other relevant agencies.

NONE Last Monday, Prime Minister Najib Razak launched the preliminary report on the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 which provides a comprehensive plan for a rapid and sustainable transformation of the country's education system.

On the launch of the preliminary report, Muhyiddin said it was timely.

"Education is a field which is very dynamic and if the government does not focus on the needs and current imperatives, it is feared that the future generation may be left behind, and this will affect the country's competitive edge," he said.

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said this when delivering his keynote address at the opening of the 2012 National Education Convention, themed ‘Education and National transformation Challenges' at the Putra World Trade Centre last night.

He said the government had outlined 11 shift initiatives for the education transformation which were aimed at accelerating the performance of the education delivery system and student outcomes.

Realising the size of the initiatives, he said the government required the support of not only the Education Ministry, but also other government agencies, the private sector, non-governmental organisations and the Malaysian people.

He said quality education had been the main focus for the past two decades, covering aspects such as quality teachers, infrastructure and facilities as well as quality leadership to produce a conducive learning environment for students, as well as produce quality human capital.

Blueprint a continuation of past reports

The deputy prime minister said the blueprint was a continuation of past reports and plans, showing effort for a comprehensive and wholesome educational transformation by taking into account the views of various quarters and local and international experts.

Hence, he called on the National Council of Professors (MPN) to support the concept and implementation of the blueprint, as well as monitor the plan's progress after it had been tabled to the cabinet and until it was finalised in December.

He also invited participants at the convention, especially the MPN and Higher Education Ministry, to contribute constructive views to strengthen the education blueprint.

At the event, Muhyiddin also witnessed the presentation of a mock cheque from Yayasan Wangsa Perdana for the MPN's 'Mahathir Distinguished Internship Programme (MDIP).

Also present was Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

- Bernama