As a management educator, human resource development (HRD) practitioner & former Chairman of Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBG) for primary and secondary schools, I found the RPN2635 as an interesting document that reflects “The spirit of cooperation across the education ecosystem to ensure that no student is left behind, every school continues to improve performance and all parties move together towards inclusive and sustainable success.” A real wonderful focus that I hope will enable each and every child in Malaysia to be included, supported in securing a meaningful education & job opportunities. (www.mohe.gov.my>rpm2635<)
The plan was launched on 26 January, 2026 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, succeeds the 2013-2025 blueprint, aiming for a high-quality, inclusive & future-ready system. It emphasizes both human development, focusing on digital literacy, artificial intelligence (AI), integrating TVET & STEM. The plan is designed to be a “living document” with 49 high-impact initiatives that is responsive to high technological advancements and global changes.
I can still remember when my second daughter, Zana studied for 3 years at 2 universities in Busan & Seoul for her Global MBA program, I learned South Korea's education record is the envy of reformers around the world, with its students consistently topping international league tables. Korean students do well in tests, because preparing for tests is all they do. The competitive culture of Korean schools, in which all the students in a given class are ranked against each other & culture of Korean families, means that when a student falls behind in class rankings, families pull out all the stops to ensure success.
I observed RPN2635 simply involve trusting parents, teachers, and students. We need to support a system that can prepare the future of our children. The piecemeal reform has only made a small difference for a few. It's not enough: we need to fundamentally change our mindset toward learning. But children are not products. They're our future, and they deserve to be treated like individuals. It isn't about ideology; it's about our human values & future of society.
Zulkifly Baharom (hajizul50@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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