Malaysian Education System Research Articles

Global Education: Computational Thinking’s Role and Relationships Explored

This research investigates the correlation between students' Computational Thinking Skills (CTS) and their performance on the Computational Thinking Test (CTT) in the context of 21st-century education, aiming to align the Malaysian education system with global standards. Emphasizing creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, the study, conducted with Form 3 (15 years old) students at a local public secondary school, reveals significant correlations between CTT outcomes and CTS. Despite limitations, the findings underscore the importance of computational thinking skills in academic success, advocating for educational shifts to cultivate these skills for students' meaningful contributions to Malaysia's global development.

From Teaching to Training: Work Adjustment of Teachers-Turn-Teacher Trainers in A Malaysian Teacher Training Institute

Day by day, more and more teachers are recruited as teacher trainers. Changing work role from a teacher to a trainer requires them to adapt to new work responsibility and tasks. In this study, they are known as teachers-turn-trainers (TTTs). These newcomers need personal and work adjustment during the transition years. This article explores the relationship between the individual-related factors, job-related factors and organizational-related factors; and work adjustment of the TTTs. Self-administered questionnaires which contains 62 items were collected from the respondents and analysed.The need to study stems from the fact that the IPGs are experiencing changes in terms of vision and mission. Based on the Theory of Work Adjustment (TWA), this article reports the findings of the study. Results show that there is a significant relationship between work adjustment and two of the variables selected: Attitudes (.419) and Proactive Personality (.502). Based on Guilford’s rule of thumb, there is a positive and moderate relationship between both the independent variables and work adjustment. In the fast and competitive world, Malaysia is an aggressively developing country. The vision, mission and goals of the Malaysian Education system, need to be supported by many studies. While the body of research seems to be growing on work adjustment abroad, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the number of studies regarding work adjustment in Malaysia is still insufficient.

Classroom-Based Assessment System to Improve the Quality of Learning in Malaysia and Indonesia

Malaysia and Indonesia have introduced their educational systems and are developing human resources using learning evaluation systems. Based on the issues raised, this study aims to portray the learning assessment in primary schools in Indonesia and Malaysia in accordance with the educational program utilized in both countries and the impediments experienced in carrying out classroom-based evaluation in schools. This studyused the research literature survey technique to gather information on a research topic fromnews, official government documents, etc. The analysis was conducted using a compilation of data from several references related to the assessment of primary school learning in Merdeka curricula, or other documents relevant to this study. The results of this study revelead that the assessment used in primaryschools in Indonesia refers to Minister of Education and Culture Regulation No. 21 of 2022, namely formative assessment and summative assessment. The Merdeka curriculum aimsat create a positive, high-quality learning atmosphere in Indonesia. Education system in Malaysia implements the concept of school-based assessment (SBA) in line with the implementation of Lower School Standard Curriculum, known as Primary School Curriculum. The ability to develop classroom-based assessments, the creativity of teachers in designing assessments, and knowledge literacy issues are all barriers to implementing classroom-based assessments in both countries.

​​LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO QUALITY LEGAL EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA​

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of technology in enhancing access to quality legal education in Malaysia. The research focused on identifying the challenges and opportunities presented by the adoption of technology in law schools, as well as exploring the impact of technology on the quality of legal education and the legal profession in Malaysia. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, including both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. The findings of the study showed that the adoption of technology in law schools has been limited, with many institutions facing challenges such as lack of funding and infrastructure, and lack of faculty training and support. However, the study also identified a number of opportunities for the use of technology in law schools, including the potential for online learning, virtual simulations, and the use of case management software. Overall, the study found that technology has the potential to significantly enhance access to quality legal education in Malaysia, but its adoption and implementation require careful planning and consideration of the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the legal education system in Malaysia. In conclusion, the study recommends that law schools in Malaysia invest in the development of technological infrastructure and resources, as well as provide training and support for faculty to effectively integrate technology into the classroom and legal profession.

Exploring the influential factors of university students' satisfaction with online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in malaysia: A cross-sectional study

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the global adoption of online learning, highlighting the importance of online education in providing educational continuity. However, factors such as poor internet connectivity and a lack of equipment have hampered the implementation of online learning in Malaysia. It is critical to address factors that influence student satisfaction in order to ensure a successful online educational process. As a result, the purpose of this study is to determine the effects of instructors, course design, technology, and environment on university students' satisfaction with online learning during the COVID-19 epidemic in Malaysia.The study's design was cross-sectional, and the research instruments were adapted from previous research. A total of 232 university students were recruited using convenience sampling, and data was collected using an online questionnaire. The findings show that course design, technology, instructors, and the environment are the best predictors of university students' satisfaction with online learning. The study adds to our understanding of the factors influencing students' satisfaction with online learning in Malaysia's education system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings can help educational institutions and policymakers design and implement effective online learning courses that meet the needs of students and increase their satisfaction.

The Relationship Between Religious Knowledge, Religious Personality and Inter-Ethnic Tolerance Among Malaysian Undergraduate Students

In a modern society that comprises various ethnic and religious groups, who share different cultures and languages, tolerance between these groups is a critical element in building peace and harmony. In the Malaysian context, the promotion and fostering of ethnic tolerance has become one of the main agendas of the government in strengthening inter-ethnic relations. This is one of the best ways to prevent ethnic conflict in a pluralistic Malaysian society. In addition, building ethnic tolerance among students of different ethnicities, whether in schools or higher education institutions, should be a major concern that needs to be systematically addressed from within the Malaysian education system. To date, past studies have shown that ethnic slurs, prejudice, and discrimination among students still occur, even though various efforts has been introduced to foster tolerance in the education system and curriculum. As such, the role of religiosity is identified as an important element in sustaining ethnic tolerance. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between religious knowledge, religious personality and inter-ethnic tolerance among Malaysian undergraduate students. Data was collected from 53 Malaysian undergraduate students using a survey questionnaire. A Pearson correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between the variables. The results show a positive significant relationship between religious knowledge, religious personality and inter-ethnic tolerance among Malaysian undergraduate students. The results of this study indicate that the role of religious knowledge and religious personality could lead students to achieve ethnic tolerance in a multi-racial and multi-religious country like Malaysia.
 Keywords: inter-ethnic tolerance, religious knowledge, religious personality, undergraduate students, Malaysia

Factors Influencing Teaching Higher-order Thinking Skills among Mathematics Teachers in Malaysian Primary Schools

Integrating higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) into the mathematics curriculum has been a longstanding goal of the Malaysian education system. By recognizing its growing importance in enhancing students’ thinking abilities, this study explores the factors influencing the teaching of HOTS in primary schools across Malaysia. A quantitative research approach is used to analyze 269 randomly selected mathematics teachers from primary schools in Temerloh, Malaysia, to investigate the impact of four influencing factors: teachers’ knowledge of HOTS, pedagogical skills, attitude, and barriers to teaching HOTS. The findings from this study revealed that all four influencing factors significantly predict the teaching of HOTS among Malaysian mathematics teachers. These results hold significant promise in enriching teaching practices and fostering HOTS integration within the school context. By providing valuable insights into the dynamics of teaching HOTS, this study aims to equip teachers, schools, and administrators with essential resources to enhance students’ academic achievements. The implications of this research are far-reaching and hold the potential to revolutionize the learning and teaching landscape in Malaysia, not only in mathematics but also in other disciplines, thereby elevating the overall learning experience.

Review of Physical Education Curriculum Design for Primary and Secondary School Students in Malaysia for the Purpose of Health Promotion in the Past Ten Years

Among both primary and secondary school students, physical education (PE) plays a critical role in encouraging pupils to take responsibility for their own health on multiple levels. This narrative literature review focuses on examining the design of the PE curriculum for health promotion within the Malaysian context over the past decade. Employing a narrative literature review approach, a total of 118 articles were scrutinized from an initial pool of 157. This comprehensive analysis aimed to uncover key variables influencing PE curriculum design and its role in health promotion. The review identified critical variables shaping health promotion through PE. Curriculum content, teaching methods, teacher training, professional development, stakeholder involvement, and health promotion outcomes were all included. The evaluation emphasized how important it is to have curriculums that are based on evidence, to use effective teaching methods, and to give teachers chances to improve their skills. These factors emerged as essential contributors to promoting health among students. Furthermore, the study highlighted the importance of involving various stakeholders in the curriculum design process and emphasized the necessity of evaluating health promotion outcomes. There is a clear need for further investigations into the intricate relationships between these variables and health promotion outcomes. Additionally, it suggests the formulation of comprehensive policy guidelines and standards for PE within the Malaysian educational system. In conclusion, this literature evaluation may help practice and policymakers create effective PE programs. Malaysia may improve student health through physical education by using evidence-based curriculum design, teacher training, and stakeholder interaction.

Assessing the Effects of Flipped Classroom to the Primary Pupils’ English Learning Performance

In this era, implementing technology in teaching and learning process without affecting traditional teaching method is very important in the 21st-century education system, which can prevent pupils’ from being outdated, as well as developing their thinking skills. Pupils in primary schools are having difficulty acquiring the fundamental abilities in the English language, encompassing speaking, listening, reading, and writing proficiencies. Therefore, it is crucial to identify effective strategies for enhancing the process of learning the English language within Malaysia's education system. This research concentrated on assessing the impact of Flipped Classroom learning on the English language proficiency of primary school students, specifically in four core language skills. In this quantitative analysis, 31 Year 3 students from a primary school located in the Kulai district were chosen through purposive sampling as participants in the study. Data collection involved surveys, pre-tests, and post-tests. The results indicated a moderately positive correlation between overall performance on these tests and a positive influence on Year 3 students' English skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Additionally, students showed a strong positive acceptance of the Flipped Classroom learning method for these four essential English skills. However, it was found that the Flipped Classroom approach did not significantly alter the students' preferred learning methods. These findings suggest that the Flipped Classroom offers a valuable addition to the education sector, providing an alternative learning approach to enhance second language education and improving English language learning.

Legal Education System In Malaysia: An Overview

Over the years, legal education in Malaysia has been improving due to the participation of the stakeholders. This contributes positively to the Malaysian legal system. Furthermore, both Shari’ah Law and Civil Law play their roles in the improvement of the judicial system. Most of the institutions that offer legal education ensure adequate curriculum structure, theoretical-practical learning, and competent law educators are part of the system. However, there are some challenges present in the current legal education system, which are highlighted by stakeholders such as faculty members, members of the Bar, and judges. Hence, this paper analyses the Malaysian legal education system from the historical background to the present. Also, the paper gives an in-depth analysis of the quality assurance mechanism adopted in legal education. This exploratory study summarizes the past and present position, explores the challenges, and ends with recommendations for improvement of the legal education system.

Editorial

Editorial

Malaysian In-Service Teachers’ Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation towards Teaching English

The most extensively studied second language in the world, English is the language of the global economy. It is crucial to understand whether instructors are sufficiently motivated at different stages of their professional journeys because good teaching is a prerequisite for students' learning. This study aimed at investigating the overall motivation of in-service English language teachers in Malaysia. Employing a quantitative research design, a survey instrument was used to collect data from in-service English teachers who are currently doing their undergraduate degree. They were requested to respond to the items on motivation, which are categorized into two sub-dimensions, intrinsic and extrinsic. The study reveals that Malaysian in-service English teachers are generally motivated to teach English, whereas the motivation comes mostly from the intrinsic aspects. The findings have significant implications on the Malaysian educational policy and system as well as its various professional development programs for teachers generally, and English teachers specifically.

PENGURUSAN PENDIDIKAN KANAK-KANAK PELARIAN ROHINGYA DI MALAYSIA: ISU DAN CABARAN

The education issue continues to plague the lives of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia. They had to face this from the beginning of their arrival up until now, the third generation of this ethnic group, as they did not have the opportunity to follow the formal education system in Malaysia. This will impact the development of this generation's human capital if it continues to be side-lined and is not immediately tackled. Therefore, this study aims to identify the educational background of Rohingya children in Malaysia, especially in alternative education centres, and to analyse the challenges faced by the education centres in managing the education of Rohingya children in Malaysia. This qualitative study uses the focus group interview technique in six selected alternative education centres as the data collection method. The result revealed that the Malaysian government allowed stakeholders to channel aid and protection to the refugees on a humanitarian basis, including managing refugee education, even though Malaysia did not ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol. The operation of alternative education centres is one of the efforts to help the refugees flooding Malaysia. However, these centres have to face various challenges, including weak governance and regulation, discrepancies in the curriculum used, a lack of financial funds, difficulty managing Rohingya children who finish school, as well as the commitment to Malaysian legislation. Accordingly, comprehensive planning and synergy among all parties are required, including the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), local communities and the Rohingya community, to improve education management and support efforts to empower the education of refugees in Malaysia.

The Role of University’s Entrepreneurship Program and Experiential Activities Towards Entrepreneurial Intention: Exploratory Analysis

In this era of globalization, the field of entrepreneurship is seen as a major agenda in empowering and sustaining the community’s economy. It has its role as an economic catalyst and capability empowered in efforts to increase innovation, creativity, and competitiveness of society in micro and macro-economic perspectives. Awareness and development of shared values, as well as entrepreneurial activities, are also sown and strengthened through the national education system in Malaysia. With the awareness of the phenomenon, the value and entrepreneurship programs in IPTA and IPTS, including Malaysia Universities, have soared. At Malaysia universities, the Malaysian Academy of SME & Entrepreneurship Development (MASMED) is an organization of the university that conducts various entrepreneurship efforts and programs for Malaysia Universities students, in empowering and raising the level of sustainability through the variance of entrepreneurial activities. This study was conducted to identify the behaviors and tendencies of entrepreneurial activities among students in the Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies (ACIS). ACIS faculties were selected to obtain special data for the characteristics of the population sampling required in the preparation of specific entrepreneurship programs of this study. The design of this study is descriptive statistics using a quantitative approach. The partial lease square (PLS) instrument will be used in factor analysis through multiple regression that allows researchers to identify significant predictions that are useful in this study.

Early Second Language Learning and Arts Integration in Malaysian Multicultural Context: A Sociocultural Perspective

Participating in art activities benefits young children tremendously, especially in promoting young children’s language development. In Malaysian education system, English is learned as a compulsory subject in school from kindergarten level and it is a second language (L2) for most of the population. Art activities provide a language and discourse-rich environment for young learners to communicate. Interaction is the foundation of learning a language in the sociocultural learning perspective. The diverse language input during the art activities helps children to understand the abstract language instructions and meaning, hence, yielding language output. By integrating art activities in language classroom, it promotes languages development and enhances the understanding of cultures diversity that is exceptionally vital in Malaysian multicultural of which the understanding among the cultures is introduced at young age. In terms of the significance of cross-disciplinary in learning, this paper discusses the integration of art activities to optimize English as L2 learning experience especially the oral language among the young children in Malaysia through the lens of the sociocultural theory and how it promotes multiculturalism. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed at the end of this paper.

Investigating Hospitality Student’s Acceptance in Online Learning Platform: Utilising UTAUT Model

This conceptual paper aims to investigate the relationship between hospitality students’ acceptance of using online learning platforms during the pandemic of COVID-19 by utilizing the UTAUT Model. The spreading of COVID-19 has altered the landscape of world education, including the higher education system in Malaysia. All traditional classes need to be switched to online learning activities to ensure the spreading of this virus can be retained. Additionally, this enormous online movement has also allowed many educators to reconsider the purpose of education and their relationships with students. Furthermore, limited studies have investigated the challenges surrounding student acceptance and adoption of such systems and their consequences for teaching and learning, particularly among students in the hospitality and tourism fields. UTAUT is the most adopted model in investigating user acceptance of online technology, which in this conceptual paper focuses on hospitality students’ online learning. The UTAUT model was adopted and modified to fit the proposed research framework by incorporating all dimensions acting as the variable. Five theoretical propositions are suggested in the literature review. This study is added to the literature on digital technology and application adoption in hospitality students’ online learning environments.

Status of Rungus Language as an Indigenous Language Spoken by Rungus Ethnic Group in Eastern Malaysia

Language shift and language maintenance as contact phenomena have received considerable attention in the realm of linguistics. The current study investigated the status of Rungus language, language of Rungus ethnic group in east Malaysia, to find out the status of this language within the Rungus local community. Synchronous unstructured interviews were conducted with twenty five Rungus educated speakers (15 males, 10 females) to elicit their attitudes about their Rungus mother tongue. Thematic analysis showed that the low status of the heritage language vis-à-vis Malay and English is evidently shown in the participants’ responses. This low status is due to various reasons such as parents’ lack of literacy, language policy, and absence of the language in the Malaysian educational system. Results of this research could argue that Rungus language is endangered and it is recommended that Rungus minority should try to maintain their language by any means otherwise it will be subject to death.

A Fundamental Study of an Alternative Learning Framework Utilizing Natural User Interface (NUI) for Physically Disabled Students

An alternative learning framework utilizing a natural user interface (NUI) can be applied in the context of education for students whose needs are not catered for in the current learning environment in Malaysia. The alternative learning program would still follow the current subject syllabus, but with differences in how the lessons are delivered, learned and executed. A conceptual framework that enables the adoption of the alternative learning program using Microsoft Kinect in Malaysian education system was then proposed to minimize the gaps found in the current learning setting to cater for the special needs of physically disabled children in Malaysia, in particular, primary school children, using the National Curriculum as a guide. Since this is a new framework, the validity and reliability of the proposed framework will be analyzed. A usability test would also be conducted to gauge the acceptance of the proposed framework amongst the children.

The Concept of Malakah Ibn Khaldun in the Context of Teaching that Applies High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)

ABSTRACT:
 The high order thinking skills (HOTS) is a transformation in the education system in Malaysia this century in line with the implementation of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025. The practice of implementing HOTS has outperformed the entire subject content concept by focusing on several HOTS theories in particular the Bloom and Taksnomi Marzano taxonomy. However, for the Islamic Education subjects based on the Quran and As-Sunnah, the implementation of this HOTS element needs to be translated through the basis of the Islamic Education Philosophy that puts the perfectional of the intellectual education as the main thrust in driving this thinking thinking culture. The emergence of figures such as Ibn Khaldun, which speaks thoroughly of the mind-based concept of Malakah, has sparked diversity in the perspective of the understanding of HOTS understanding. For this reason, this study uses the analysis process by analyzing the literature by examining the contents of a synonymity or summarized in the meaning of the poor concept of Ibn Khladun in the context of the teaching of Islamic education subjects. The results of this study resulted in four basic concepts in the application of HOTS through the use of Malakah combined with the use of aql tamyizi, aql tajribi, aqal nazori and insaniyah fact. In general, the implementation of Islamic Education PdP which implements HOTS should focus on the process and philosophy of teaching that Ibn Khaldun has established to ensure that students' understanding, appreciation and practice assesses the requirements set out on the basis of the Islamic Education Philosophy.

The Six Sigma Approach Improves Teacher Instruction Quality Through Quadruple Helix Model Expectations

The success of Six Sigma in several industries stimulates its potential to be applied in the field of education. The literature shows that there are almost no quality assessment studies in Malaysian education using the Six Sigma approach, and existing studies have only focused on the profit-driven sector. Therefore, this article aims to explain the implementation of the Six Sigma approach to assess the quality of teacher teaching and improve the quality of teaching in the classroom. This is because teacher teaching is still a challenge for the Malaysian Ministry of Education when its effectiveness towards student achievement is often questioned. The ideas in this article also discuss the expectations of the innovation-based Quadruple Helix Model for the application of the Six Sigma approach in order to assess the quality of teacher teaching. Discussion summary are expected to add value to the multiplication of existing knowledge as well as contribute to the production of a new technique and approach to assess the quality of teacher teaching using the Six Sigma approach. In addition, the Quadruple Helix Model is expected to develop ideas in order to improve and ensure that the education system in Malaysia becomes one of the best in the world.