Maszlee: PM wants curriculum fixed, moots teaching of AI, coding skills

INTERVIEW | Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants students to learn substantial subjects that would equip them with the knowledge to face the challenges of the modern world, Education Minister Maszlee Malik said.

To achieve this, he said, the prime minister had asked him to improve the curriculum for schools.

"He (Mahathir) had a look at that (school timetables implemented for different streams) and came up with a proposal.

"He said it is not comprehensive enough. He sees too many subjects that segregate the children," Maszlee told Malaysiakini in an interview in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The minister said Mahathir told him that students should spend more time together learning subjects that would prepare them to thrive in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0.

"The prime minister also asked me to include the new knowledge (fields) which are considered part of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 to be taught in schools.

"For example, coding skills to do with data, artificial intelligence and other similar sciences needed for our future generations to be compatible with the global market," he added.

It was previously reported that the Education Ministry would formulate a new curriculum for government schools, which is expected to be implemented by the end of 2020 or early 2021.

Maszlee had said the new curriculum would be implemented in stages and based on recommendations by the ministry's policy committee and national education advisory council.

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