Removal of Proverb or "Peribahasa" Section from GCE "O" Level Malay Language Examinations from 2024

7 Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Education with the implementation of the changes to the Malay Language subject in the Teaching and Learning Measures for Secondary Schools revised in 2021 and, particularly, the removal of the proverb or "Peribahasa" section from the GCE "O" Level Malay Language Examinations from 2024, how will the Ministry ensure that students will still have exposure and familiarity on the usage of proverbs in their cultural and literary sense and of its application in the modern context.

The Second Minister for Education (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, while "Peribahasa" or proverb will no longer be examined as a standalone component in the national examination, it will continue to be assessed within texts and passages, so that students will apply their inferential skills and understand its contextual use. Students will continue to learn Peribahasa in the Malay Language lessons. Through discussions, presentations and research, students develop an appreciation for the rich values and culture encapsulated in the Peribahasa.

Mr Speaker: Mr Zhulkarnain.

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Chua Chu Kang): I thank the Second Minister for the answer. Peribahasa has a unique philosophy and rich heritage within us and there are lessons passed on from one generation to the next, promoting keen observation and critical thinking. So, I would like to ask the Second Minister, notwithstanding that it is not being examined in the exams and still being taught in the lessons, what other ways are there for schools to inculcate the spirit of using Peribahasa and promoting critical thinking among our students in their daily lives, perhaps in a literary event among schools?

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: I thank Mr Zhulkarnain for the supplementary question. Sir, I totally agree with the Member that Peribahasa provides a very deep insight into our culture and our values far and beyond just the language itself. And we do want to promote the understanding of Peribahasa, the use of Peribahasa or proverbs that would allow our students to appreciate the culture that they are experiencing and learning. Within the school environment, teachers continue to teach their students Peribahasa and how to use them contextually in lessons.

Our textbooks are already embedded with Peribahasa through the various themes across different sections of the textbooks. In the Ministry of Education (MOE), there is a committee called the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee that engages community groups, including the Majlis Bahasa Melayu or the Malay Language Council, to look at events beyond schools where we provide opportunities for students to learn and express their understanding of proverbs or Peribahasa.

We also need to look at how we can ride with the times, because children today have difficulties learning the language itself, let alone the complexities of Peribahasa. So, we want to make sure that they understand it and we are also encouraging them to use new technologies like the production of videos and TikTok, so that they can get interested in understanding not just the Peribahasa, but also the meaning behind it and an appreciation of the values through their own lenses. We encourage that and are looking at the possibilities of having TikTok competitions and video production competitions among students. The teachers can guide them through that process and let the students appreciate and enjoy that learning.