EDUCATION FOR RURAL PEOPLES IN MALAYSIA

Daarsiini a/p S.Tanavanthan
2013 - 121856
Ministry of Rural And Regional Development

        In this new millennium in which our daily life is often dominated by the advancement in sciences and technologies, there is a still inequalities that is visible enough between developed urban and rural areas. One of the major inequalities which can be seen clearly is that the rural areas do not get much access to quality education which is so important for social and economic development of our country Malaysia.

        Accumulated evidence and as well as developed theories teach us that education is a powerful instrument of economic, social and cultural change. This is proven by the launching of a new flagship within the Education for All (EFA) initiative by FAO and UNESCO in 2002. This initiative focused on education for rural people in order to increase the co-ordination of efforts targeting the educational needs of rural people. This efforts and ideas clearly show that education for the rural people are vital to sustain a better life especially for the multiracial peoples of Malaysia.

       As the Minister of Rural and Regional Development of Malaysia, I strictly concern about the education for the rural people  in entire Peninsula Malaysia including Sabah and Sarawak. Thus, I would like to highlights several measures that should be done to enhance the chances for the rural people to get a better education for their sake of life.

          To reach these goals, a determined and long-term commitment is required to expand learning opportunities for various categories of leaners with broad range of basic learning needs. Basic education must be offered on a equitable basis so that all rural people have a fair opportunity to obtain viable education. Some combination of formal and non-formal programs is needed as well as various informal educational opportunities.

          Furthermore, education programs should be organized in the rural areas to ensure that rural people can put their knowledge and skills to good use. Such programs will attract and retain peoples from the rural to improve themselves by obtaining a proper education. Moreover, education in rural areas should be expanded and improved. Systemic reforms should aim both to remove the existing urban and rural disparities in educational opportunity and to ensure coherent system with appropriate bridges between its various streams.

         In conclusion, as the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, I would like to see our nation rise with the same level as other developed countries. This can only be achieved through systemic education for the peoples of Malaysia.     

Reference

1)http://unesdo.unesco.org/education/flagship-initiatives/towards.policy.pdf

2)http://www.moh.gov.my/images/gallery/report/country.health.pdf

3)http://unesdo.unesco.org/images/0006/000623/062375.pdf