Malaysian School Subject Syllabus The curriculum in Malaysia is centralized and coordinated by the Curriculum Development Division (CDD), Ministry of Education. The CDD designs the syllabus and teachers’ resource books for all school subjects for the preschool, primary and secondary schools. Two main materials published by CDD are the syllabus and curriculum specifications of each subject that are used as a guide and road map to teachers, students and textbook writers which dictate the content of students’ textbooks, teachers’ guides, teaching materials, and other matters related to the teaching and learning of the subject. The subject offerings, status at lower and secondary level; and time allotments for each subject are also determined by CDD. The current curriculum use the Integrated Curriculum for Secondary School (KBSM) where Science and Geography are compulsory subjects at the lower secondary (Form 1-3). Science subject is allocated 200 minutes per week while Geography subject is allocated 120 minutes per week. At the upper secondary (Form 4 and Form 5), Science remains a compulsory subject while Geography is an elective subject for Arts stream. According to Habibah Lateh and Vasugiammai (2011) only a few schools offer geography at this level. Malay Language (240 minutes per week), English Language (200 minutes per week) and Mathematics (200 minutes per week) are compulsory subjects at lower and upper secondary. The aims of the science curriculum for secondary school are to provide students with the knowledge and skills in science and technology and enable them to solve problems and make decisions in everyday life based on scientific attitudes and noble values. Science curriculum emphasises on inquiry and problem solving processes that utilised scientific and thinking skills (MOE, 2002a). Scientific skills are important in any scientific investigation such as conducting experiments and carrying out projects. The teaching and learning process ‘should enable students to acquire knowledge, master skills and develop scientific attitudes and noble values in an integrated manner’ (MOE, 2002a: 10). The science curriculum is organised around themes where each theme consists of various learning areas, each of which consists of a number of learning objectives. A learning objective has one or more learning outcomes. Learning outcomes are written in the form of measurable behavioural terms based on the hierarchy of the cognitive and affective domains (MOE, 2002a: 13). Topics and subtopics of lesson and textbooks are derived from learning objectives. The Geography syllabus at secondary school was formulated based on three parts i.e. (A) Geography Skills, (B) Human and Physical Geography, and (C) Local Study. The study of biodiversity focus on Part B which is organised around eight themes. Each theme consists of various topics and subtopics. Geography curriculum enables students to understand the phenomenon of geographical focus to Malaysia and its relations with other countries in order to produce students who are knowledgeable, responsible, grateful and love the country. In the process of teaching and learning, emphasis should be given to the development of thinking skills and generic skills. Inquiry and discovery learning through experience is highly recommended. Both English and Malay Language focus on language use, language skills and language system. Among the objectives enables learners to listen to, view, read and respond to different texts, and express ideas, opinions, thoughts and feelings imaginatively and creatively in spoken and written form; and show an awareness and appreciation of moral values and love towards the nation (MOE, 2003; KPM, 2003). In Malaysia, English is taught as a second language in schools. Learners are taught the English language to enable them Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the 179 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
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