World · Malaysia Bureau
MP urges education ministry to maintain Tamil language hours in vernacular schools
The Tapah Member of Parliament has called on the Ministry of Education to preserve the current 12 weekly hours allocated for Tamil language instruction in vernacular schools, proposing alternative approaches to curriculum requirements.
LSN Malaysia ·
Saravanan has pressed the Ministry of Education to maintain existing time allocations for Tamil language teaching in Chinese and Tamil vernacular primary schools, resisting proposed reductions to the weekly schedule.
The Tapah MP suggested that character-building modules currently mandated as separate curriculum components could be integrated into existing moral education subjects instead. This approach, he argued, would help preserve dedicated language instruction time without compromising broader educational objectives.
The proposal reflects ongoing discussions about balancing curriculum demands in vernacular schools, where minority language instruction competes with other educational priorities. Tamil language advocates have raised concerns that reduced teaching hours could impact students' proficiency and cultural literacy.
The call comes amid broader national conversations about curriculum design in Malaysia's diverse education system. Vernacular schools, which serve significant Tamil and Chinese-speaking student populations, have long navigated the challenge of maintaining language standards while meeting evolving national education frameworks.
The Ministry of Education has not yet publicly responded to the MP's proposals regarding Tamil language hours and curriculum integration methods.