The Malaysia Curriculum in Primary and Lower Secondary Schools
In 1983, the Ministry of Education implemented the Integrated Curriculum for Primary School, which specifies standards for each level of primary education. At Level 1 (Grades 1 to 3), the curriculum emphasizes the acquisition of reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. At Level 2 (Grades 4 to 6), the curriculum is designed to reinforce the mastery of these basic skills and build a strong foundation in science and mathematics.
The science and mathematics curricula at the primary level were revised in 2011, and the revised curricula have been implemented gradually, beginning with Grade 1 students in 2011.1 The revised mathematics curriculum is organized into four learning domains: Numbers and Operations, Measurement and Geometry, Relationships and Algebra, and Statistics and Probability. The revised primary level science curriculum is organized into six learning domains: Introduction to Science, Life Science, Physical Science, Material Science, Earth and Space Science, and Technology and Sustainable Living.
The Integrated Curriculum for Secondary School has been in effect since 1989. It encompasses a wide range of subjects in the arts and sciences, as well as vocational and technical subjects. The goal of the mathematics curriculum is to develop individuals who are able to think mathematically and who can apply mathematical knowledge effectively and responsibly in problem solving and decision making. The goal of the science curriculum is to provide students with knowledge and skills for problem solving and decision making in everyday life, guided by moral values; to prepare students to pursue further education in science and technology; and to develop a conscientious, dynamic, and progressive society with a culture of science and technology that values nature and the preservation and conservation of the environment.2