The teaching and learning process of Bahasa Malaysia at national type Chinese (SJKC) and Tamil (SJKT) schools should be more interactive and conducted in a relaxed environment to enable the students to master the national language.

Education Minister Maszlee Malik said through such methods, the learning process would be more fun and the students would appreciate the language more.

“Most importantly, the teaching process should be fun and not burdensome," he told reporters after launching the national forum on the improvement in the standard of Bahasa Malaysia at SJKC in Sentul here today.

He cited an example of using films by the late P Ramlee as well as the Upin and Ipin animation series in the teaching process to attract students and enable them to understand Bahasa Malaysia more easily.

Maszlee also encouraged twin school programme involving national schools, national-type schools, religious schools and private schools in fostering mutual understanding among the people of different races and religions in the country.

The minister said exchange programmes on cultural and educational aspects could open the minds of the students to understand and appreciate the uniqueness of each race.

"I believe that when we play together, eat together, and exchange programmes involving teachers and students will open the horizons and demolish the walls of prejudice as well as build bridges of unity across the nation.

"These efforts have already started in some private schools but not at the national level. So, I called for the schools to come up with joint programmes," he said.

In another development, Maszlee said teachers would receive good news early next year on efforts to reduce their workload.

He said the ministry officials and researchers were drafting a strategic plan on the matter and it was expected to be completed this December.

- Bernama