Briefing on pilot scheme of integrated education system
By Azlan Othman & Hj Minor Absah

Briefing the principals are Pg. Hjh Hairani (center), Hjh Norjum (left) and Hjh Apsah (right) at the Religious Teacher's Training College

With effect from January 3, 2004, the Ministry of Education implemented a pilot scheme of integrated education system involving 37 government primary schools, which for the last two years had undergone a pilot scheme of whole day schooling.

A briefing was held yesterday by Pg. Hjh Hairani, Acting Director General of Education, Hjh Apsah who is the Director of Schools and Hjh Norjum, Director of Curriculum Development Department. It was held at the Religious Teacher's Training College and attended by principals and senior officials from the ministry.

The pilot scheme on integrated education system will begin with pupils in pre-school, primary 1,2 and 3 taking either Islamic Education or Extended Civics, and the Arabic.

The study of the Arabic language will be implemented in stages beginning with primary one pupil. These new subjects are only introduced in the 37 schools where the integrated education system is being piloted.

In this scheme, Arabic is a compulsory subject. Islamic education is compulsory for all Muslim pupils. Non-Muslim pupils will be provided with the option of studying either Islamic education or extended civics.

The number of teaching periods for Islamic education in pre-school is five periods weekly and 11 periods in the lower primary. Extended civics is allocated five periods per week for preschool, primary 1,2 and 3.

The extra six periods in the week will be utilised at the discretion of the school. As for Arabic language lessons, the time allocated each week will be two periods. Pupils will no longer attend religious schools in the afternoon.

In this regard, schooling hours for pre-school, primary 1, 2 and 3 will be from 7.15am to 12.30 noon. However pupils in primary 2 and 3 will be required to attend an afternoon session once a week.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin