Malaysia: Proposal to have environmental education subject in schools finalised - Environment Ministry

AZURA ABAS New Straits Times 2 Nov 17;

PUTRAJAYA: The proposal to have environmental education as a subject in schools has been finalised.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar today said he was ready to discuss the proposal with the Education Minister.

He said top officials from his ministry and the Education Ministry have been discussing the proposal for months and those in the discussions were receptive to the idea of having such a subject.

"Once I get the report from the deputy secretary-general, who headed the ministry in the talks with the Education Ministry, discussions between the Education Minister and I can start.

"And, I can get the report within the next two to three days," he told reporters after the 2050 National Transformation (TN50) dialogue session at the ministry level.

Wan Junaidi said many things had to be taken into account before the subject on environment could be introduced in kindergartens and schools.

Having enough teachers who were equipped to teach the subject was one of the things that had to be looked into especially by the Education Ministry, he added.

"This is why, it is too early to set a deadline as to when the subject should be implemented," he said, adding that the idea to have a dedicated subject on environment studies for school children was mooted late last year.

The proposal, he said, would be tabled before the Cabinet for its approval, tentatively next year.

He also added that it was far too soon to decide if it would be an examinable subject or a compulsory non-examinable subject.

"The Education Ministry will have to evaluate this."

Wan Junaidi was reported as saying in September that the subject would help address issues such as environmental pollution and stress on the importance of sustainable development.

He is of the idea that environmental awareness should begin from an early age and as a subject in school, it would be a big step forward.

On the ministry's TN50 aspirations, Wan Junaidi said the ministry will focus on three key areas – clean air, clean water and clean environment.

To achieve these three aspirations, he said certain changes have to be made including reviewing the existing laws and frameworks.