KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Oct 2017:
The Ministry of Education has been urged to find a way to reduce the burden of pupils in having to carry too many books to school.
Parental Engagement and School Toolkit Programme national chief coach Amiruddin Sahudi is of the view that the syllabi for core subjects must focus and emphasise on basic knowledge skills only.
“In primary schools, the course outline for core subjects such as science and mathematics which we have today is too heavy on the children … this does not include subjects like music education, religious study.
“When there is a lot to cover in a syllabus, more workbooks will be needed for the pupils while teachers will have to rush through to cover the syllabus.”
Alternatively, Amiruddin proposed that schools provide lockers for the pupils to keep their textbooks.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid had urged schools on Thursday not to burden pupils with additional workbooks and exercise books as the use of school textbooks was adequate.
He said that between the ages of seven to 12 years old, pupils should be given the opportunity to enjoy being in school and not be pressured for academic excellence.
Meanwhile, National Union of Teaching Profession president Kamarozaman Abdul Razak said the issue over too many books and heavy school bags had dragged on as some schools did not comply with the circular on Use of Workbooks in Primary Schools.
The circular stipulated among others that teachers should not use workbooks during classes and vendors should not be allowed to sell workbooks in schools.
– Bernama