The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has urged the Education Ministry to provide teachers with more materials on how to conduct ‘co-teaching’ – the new approach involving two teachers in one classroom that will be introduced under the 2027 school curriculum.
The new subject, called Nature and Humanity: Integrated Learning, combines two or more lessons into one.
NUTP secretary-general Fouzi Singon said that while teachers had been informed about the decision, many were still in the dark about how to conduct the lessons.
“As this is something new, we need to be ready for it. We still have time, as it is only effective from 2027. However, we can only do so if we receive more training,” said Fouzi.
“The ministry ought to produce instructional videos on how teachers can plan lessons. Once we know how to go about it, it will be easier for us to explain to parents what co-teaching is all about.
“Right now, many of us are in the dark. Don’t make us lab rats.”
Yesterday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the new approach aims to emphasise a balance between academic achievement and character development among students.
She also said her ministry conducted a pilot involving 130 teachers and received positive feedback.
Fouzi said the NUTP expected many questions from parents, but teachers were currently unable to explain the benefits of Nature and Humanity: Integrated Learning.
“Besides training teachers, the authorities need to educate the public as well. Parents want to know about this new module.”
Fouzi said the co-teaching concept would not require Malaysia to train new teachers, as it involved combining two or more lessons into one.
“For example, if we combine science and music, the science teacher would teach their subject, and the music teacher could then turn those elements into a song, making the lesson livelier and more interactive,” said Fouzi.
“As such, there will be no need to hire more teachers, as we will be using those we already have.
“We still face a shortage of teachers, but it is not as bad as it once was. In fact, we are close to having enough teachers.”
He added that the ministry must remember the lessons from the j-QAF programme, which integrated the elements of Jawi, Quran, Arabic language, and Fardhu Ain – introduced in 2004 before being fully implemented in 2005.
“It started well, but eventually ran into issues before it was absorbed into the wider curriculum,” he said.
