Introduction to Education : Article review

Assessment 2

Article: Holistic Education in Malaysia

Author: Habsah Ismail & Aminuddin Hasan

1.    Purpose of the article:

The purpose of the article is to address the concept of holistic education in Malaysia in the context of ISSC (Malaysian Secondary School Integrated Curriculum). It also discussed the main aspects in the concept and criteria needed to uphold the concept. Finally, it also highlighted problems to implement the concept in Malaysian education system.

2.    Significance of the article in terms of theory, educational practice or economy?

The concept is very significant for reader to understand the theory of education in Malaysia.

It is also important for all parties to play their role to improve current educational practice so that it can support the concept successfully. Finally, the article highlighted the integration of knowledge and skills so that it can make the students more hands on and expert in doing things they learn in schools. Thus, it produces more skillful citizens with high integrity values which are essential to uplift country’s economy.

3.    Main findings that can be derived from this article:

First, the article explains the 5 main aspects of ISSC:

a)      Integration of Knowledge, Skills, Values and Language in Learning.

b)      Integration of Learning Experiences in the School Subjects

c)       Integration of  Theory and Practice in the Subject Taught

d)      Integration of Learning Experience Inside and Outside the Classroom

e)      Integration of Teaching and Learning Strategies

Second, the article highlighted criteria needed to support concept of holistic education in Malaysia.

a)      Interconnectedness with the Creator ( SQ- spiritual quotient)

b)      Knowledge of social sciences and humanity ( EQ- emotional quotient)

c)       Knowledge of Physical Science ( IQ- intellectual quotient)

Next, the article also compares Malaysian holistic education with its western counterpart.

Western education rejects SQ because it is subjective and has no economic value.

Finally, the article addressed the problem of implementing holistic education in Malaysia faced by teachers and school.

a)      Teachers – their primary concern is to complete the syllabus regardless of core values since it is not evaluated in the examination.

b)      School- school environment was too academic and emphasize on academic excellence.

4.    Comments and reviews on how to improve the article:

The strength of the article is at the content which is being comprehensively discussed. All the main aspects of ISSC are being explained and discussed. In brief, the authors manage to convey the purpose of the article to the reader.

However, there are not sufficient explanations about western concept of holistic education and the discussion of comparison between Malaysian and Western education is not much discussed. Yet, the article also touches on the issues on implementation of holistic education in Malaysia were being discussed but no proper solution/suggestion being introduced.

So, I suggest the article should discuss the solutions and practical measures to be taken by policy makers, teachers and parents to enhance the implementation of the concept into Malaysian educational system. Among the practical solutions are:

a)      The policy makers should revise the evaluation of academic excellence which includes also the inculcation of the core values. Among the possible way is to have interview session as the evaluation for students.

 b)      The teachers should incorporate the core values into their instructional objectives (learning outcomes) in each lesson. Thus, by the end of the lesson, the values should be inculcated as well as the subject thought.

 c)       Parents should play their role in educating their children about religion and moral values so that the children can have strong development in spiritual, emotional and intellectual quotient.

Finally, the article provides great opportunity to all related parties to improve and enhance Malaysian Educational system further to make it in line with National Philosophy of Education.