Renowned human rights activist and lawyer Siti Kasim has voiced strong criticism against the Ministry of Education (MOE) for allocating RM9 million to send teachers abroad for leadership and artificial intelligence (AI) training. She argues that such expenditures are an unnecessary drain on taxpayers’ money and offers herself as a consultant at a fraction of the cost.
In a recent YouTube video, Siti Kasim condemned the government’s practice of sending officials overseas under the pretext of enhancing the education system. She labeled it as an ineffective strategy, asserting that past instances have shown little to no impact from such training programs. According to her, many top officers who previously attended overseas courses failed to bring back meaningful improvements, making the entire initiative a waste of resources.
Her remarks come in response to Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi’s announcement about the government’s plan to send teachers abroad for training in countries like Singapore and the US. This initiative, he explained, aligns with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s vision of improving education beyond infrastructure and curriculum by focusing on teacher leadership and competency.
However, Siti Kasim remains unconvinced. She sarcastically proposed that if the government were truly committed to improving education, they should allocate the RM9 million to her instead. With that budget, she claimed she could effectively train teachers to avoid indoctrination and outdated teaching methods. Furthermore, she asserted that she could revamp the school syllabus for as little as RM2 million, significantly less than what the government intends to spend.
Outlining her vision for educational reform, Siti Kasim suggested two key measures:
- Revamping the syllabus – She emphasized reducing the focus on religious subjects and prioritizing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. She believes religious education should be left to parents who can enroll their children in religious classes outside school hours, as was traditionally done.
- Improving teacher selection and training – She raised concerns about the increasing number of teachers who adopt religiously inclined mindsets in national schools. She suggested revisiting the selection criteria at teacher training institutions to ensure educators maintain a neutral and professional approach to teaching.
Beyond these curriculum and training concerns, Siti Kasim also highlighted the need to address infrastructure and accessibility issues, particularly for Orang Asli students in rural Sabah and Sarawak. Many of these children, she pointed out, still struggle with inadequate transportation, often resorting to taking boats or even swimming to school.
Expressing her deep frustration, she urged the government to focus on real issues rather than waste money on overseas training that offers little benefit. Instead of looking outward, she believes the solution lies in making internal changes to the education system.
Information Source: Focus Malaysia
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