KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should emulate developed countries such as South Korea and the United Kingdom by doing away with the current rigid and formal education system seen at the primary level.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Centre of Education and Diversity senior lecturer Dr Anuar Ahmad said in contrast with Malaysia where the age limit for primary education ends at 12 years old, the age limits in the two countries are between 10 and 11 years old.
He also said that primary education in both countries starts between the ages of five and six.
"This (the age limit on primary education) of both of these countries is in line with the guidelines of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, where the age limit to master reading, writing and counting skills is at 10 years.
"It also indicates that developed countries focus more on early childhood education, where it is better if children go to school earlier.
"For them, primary school is a place where new skills can be built through fun learning and exploration. Education in primary schools should not be too formal and rigid," he said in a statement on Facebook, today.
Anuar added that the use of textbooks was also not necessary, as guidelines will be provided based on the general curriculum.
Meanwhile, he said that teaching methods will be entrusted to the schools and teachers to implement through activities according to the needs of students, as well as the location of the schools.
This, he said, contributed towards the recognition of primary school teachers in the developed countries.
"This is why the salaries of primary and secondary school teachers (in these developed countries) are the same.
"In Finland, an individual must also have a degree in education to become a primary school teacher, and degrees in other fields will not be considered.
"The recognition for primary school teachers in their country is truly remarkable. (But) what about us?"
