Ministry explains revision in history curriculum
By Zakiah Koya, The Sun
The allegations that school history textbooks were biased were made in reference to previous textbooks used under the Malaysian Integrated Secondary School Curriculum (KBSM), the Ministry of Education said today.
Its director-general, Datuk Abdul Ghafar Mahmud, was responding to the allegation by author Dr Ranjit Malhi that “five out of 10 chapters of the form four history textbook deals with Islamic history as compared to only one chapter in the earlier textbook”.
Ghafar explained that “under the theme of Civilisation in the curriculum, Islamic Civilisation, not Islamic History, is just a sub-theme. In the previous textbook the sub-theme of Islamic Civilisation was discussed as one big chapter.
“When the curriculum was revised, it was agreed the chapter should be segmented into several short chapters to aid students’ comprehension. These shorter chapters also give room for various teaching and learning activities to be conducted in the class.
“It may seem that there are many chapters written for the topic of Islamic Civilisation, but in truth the weight of the sub-theme remains the same,” said Ghafar.
The omission of prominence given to certain historical personalities in the textbooks was because “the curriculum focuses on the significant events in the opening of Kuala Lumpur rather than the personalities involved”.
Ranjit had pointed out that “the Form 2 history textbook had only one sentence on Yap Ah Loy…” suggesting the curriculum has downplayed the contribution of this Chinese Kapitan.
On allegations that there was “… no mention of freedom fighters such as Gurchan Singh (Lion of Malaya) and Cybil Karthigesu who resisted the Japanese Occupation of Malaya”, Ghafar said no particular list of names is mentioned.
“It is the teachers’ prerogative to decide and explore with the students the personalities of their choice in line with the expectations of the curriculum,” said Ghafar.
Ghafar further said the ministry, from time to time, revises the history curriculum to ensure its contents adhere to the National Education Policy.
“The reduction in coverage of important historical events such as Renaissance and Industrial Revolution, as mentioned by Ranjit, is the result of the ongoing revision of the history curriculum. The previous history curriculum and the current revised history curriculum discusses both topics under the world history component in the history curriculum for the upper secondary level.
“In the previous curriculum, the topics were taught as two themes. In the revised curriculum, these themes have been integrated with the relevant topics of Malaysian history. This is to enhance pupils’ understanding of the impact of world events on the nation’s historical development,” said Ghafar.
He also reasoned that “in any part of the world, the subject of history is not only just the narration of the nation’s story but also a unification factor for the people”.
“Patriotism is the result of understanding and internalisation, but before this can be achieved, pupils should be given accurate knowledge on the history of this nation.
“It is not the MOE’s intention to produce generations of pupils with a misconstrued knowledge and views of this nation’s history, but rather to provide a clear and accurate account of past events,” stressed Ghafar.
Ghafar stated MOE used the cyclical process to develop the history curriculum for schools and involved various experts in the final draft of the curriculum.
“These experts are historians, academicians and practitioners (teachers). The draft is then handed to the Historical Society of Malaysia for verification. The amended draft is then presented to the Central Curriculum Committee for endorsement.
“This process would ensure that the final draft of the curriculum is free from errors and distortions. The Central Curriculum Committee is made up of top level executives of the ministry representatives of local universities, NGOs and stakeholders,” said Ghafar.
theSun had on Monday reported allegations by history textbook writers Ranjit and Chinese school history textbook writer Ng How Kuen, that the history textbooks were littered with factual errors and distortions.
Ranjit, who used to be an adviser to the ministry on history textbooks, claimed that secondary school history textbooks had been used to promote political interests.
He said he was labelled “anti-national” by a senior ministry official when he pointed out the errors and distortions.
Ng said making history a compulsory pass subject would mean one would have to subscribe to one’s version of events or risk failing the entire examination.
Recently, the ministry announced that the history syllabus is being reviewed and that the subject will be made a compulsory pass in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia from 2013.
