AI to Become a New Pillar of National Education, Say Academics | KiddyNews

Shift Towards Quality and Future Readiness

Academics have described the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into curriculum and teaching methods as the most significant reform under the Malaysia Education Blueprint (RPM) 2026–2035. The blueprint marks a strategic shift in the national education system, moving from a focus on expanding access to strengthening effectiveness, quality and future readiness.

Effendi Ewan Matore  from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said the blueprint was not a continuation of the Malaysia Education Development Plan 2013–2025, but a recalibration of priorities in the post-Covid-19 era.

“The key difference lies in the transition from expanding access to emphasising quality, resilience and future readiness,” he said.

Structural Reforms Under the New Blueprint

RPM 2026–2035 was introduced as a national education reform plan aimed at rebuilding the education system in a more equitable, structured and competitive manner. Key reforms include centralised learning assessments, the designation of national core subjects, and aligning the entry age for Year 1.

The policy allowing six-year-olds to enrol in Year 1 was described by Effendi as a more flexible, student-centred approach that takes individual developmental readiness into account.

Technology-Driven Teaching and Learning

Effendi said students could expect significant changes in technology-based learning methods within the first five years of the blueprint’s implementation. The new curriculum will emphasise project-based learning, foundational literacy in Year 1, and explicit attention to students’ mental health, resilience and character development.

He noted, however, that implementation may face challenges, including increased teacher workload, outdated parental mindsets and the digital divide between schools, which could affect the effectiveness of the reforms.

Call for Cultural Change in Schools

Universiti Muhammadiyah Malaysia’s Noor Azlan Ahmad Zanzali said the blueprint represents an important step towards holistic student development but warned that reforms risk remaining on paper without deeper cultural change in the education system.

He said the blueprint promotes the development of ethical, knowledgeable, skilled, resilient and confident students, reducing reliance on an exam-oriented approach. However, he stressed that meaningful impact would require reduced bureaucratic burdens, greater professional autonomy for teachers and reforms to assessment methods.

Impact on Preschools and Early Childhood Education

Although the blueprint focuses on the formal school system, its emphasis on developmental readiness, holistic learning and technology integration is expected to have implications for preschools and early childhood education providers. Early childhood centres may face growing expectations to strengthen foundational literacy, social-emotional development and character-building before children enter Year 1. The focus on readiness rather than age alone places greater importance on early years educators’ role in observing and supporting individual child development. As digital learning becomes more prominent across the education system, preschools may also need to ensure that technology exposure remains age-appropriate and balanced with play-based, experiential learning.

Source:

Free Malaysia Today  – “AI set to drive major reform in national education, say academics”

Thoughtfully adapted by KiddyNews. Keeping parents and educators informed with the latest ECCE developments from Malaysia and beyond.