MORAL STUDIES A DYNAMIC SUBJECTS

The desire to abolish moral education compels me to clarify the dynamism of this subject and illustrate the actual issues in this subject

By: Dr Vishalache Balakrishnan
Director, Centre for Research in International and Comparative Education, Universiti Malaya

THE past two months have been a reflective phase for many parents and people to voice their desire to replace the Moral Education with philosophy.

The desire to abolish moral education compels me to clarify the dynamism of this subject and illustrate the actual issues in this subject.

Firstly, when moral education was introduced in 1983, there were very few experts and the subject was taught by Islamic studies teachers.

Here is where we made a big mistake.

Moral education is not Islamic studies or religious education.

Moral education, in a multicultural context, takes into consideration all religions and belief systems.

Moral education builds cognitive, emotive and spiritual quotient in people to face moral dilemmas.

One does not need to be religious to have good morals but religion becomes a source or inspiration to be moral.

But because we have belief in God as one of our Rukun Negara pillars and moral education pioneers were all mostly religious educators, our moral education is unique.

Since the first stage of implementing in the 1980s, the subject itself has undergone changes from the content, approach, pedagogy and assessment perspectives.

I am proud that moral education was one of the pioneer subjects in our education system.

We have moral projects under the 2017 moral education syllabus.

Activities would include awareness projects on environment and sustainability, multicultural awareness, which includes human rights, rights and responsibilities in the cyberworld, and mutual respect in a diversified society.

Hence, I wonder if parents and those concerned with moral education understand the dynamism of the subject.

It would be ideal to understand the transformation that the subject had undergone and will undergo before even coming up with ideas of abolishing it.

Look into the issues in the subject, collect evidence, and don’t just form opinions and judgments based on hearsay.

Then discussions can be held to ensure that the subject remains dynamic.

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