PETALING JAYA: The Education Ministry has decided to retain the existing 12 weekly teaching periods for Tamil language in Tamil national-type schools (SJK(T)) under the 2027 School Curriculum (KP2027), following concerns raised by stakeholders over a proposed reduction.
The decision comes a day after MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan urged the ministry to maintain the existing allocation, objecting to a proposal to reduce Tamil language teaching time from 12 to 10 periods per week.
In a statement today, the ministry said the decision was made after conducting engagement sessions with stakeholders and reviewing the views and recommendations raised during the discussions.
It said the 12 weekly teaching periods would also be retained for Bahasa Melayu in national schools (SK) and Chinese language in Chinese national-type schools (SJK(C)).
The ministry said the decision ensured that the allocated teaching time for all three languages would not be reduced under KP2027.
It also expressed appreciation to all parties who had contributed their views, adding that language proficiency and pupils’ learning needs across all school streams remained priorities in the country’s curriculum reforms.
Yesterday, Saravanan, who is also Tapah MP, said he had written to Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek to express his opposition to the proposed reduction.
He had also suggested integrating the proposed Character Building module into existing Moral Education periods instead of reducing Tamil language teaching time.
