ANNUAL REPORT 2019 3 A. EDUCATION AND TRAINING On 5 March, SUHAKAM submitted its proposals for a review of the National Education Policy (NEP) to the Committee reviewing the NEP, headed by Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Ibrahim Bajunid. Commissioner Datuk Lok Yim Pheng, who represented SUHAKAM at the meeting with the Committee, presented a proposal which focused on the following four main areas: i. That human rights education be one of the objectives of the policy; ii. That a Human Rights Policy be introduced, particularly in the administration and management of MOE; iii. That Human Rights education be in the co-curriculum and curriculum at all levels; and, iv. That the administration of school discipline is in line with human rights principles. After the Committee submitted its report to then Education Minister Dr. Maszlee Malek in May 2019, MOE organised several laboratory sessions to detail the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations. SUHAKAM participated in the sessions from 6 to 29 November, giving its input concerning human rights for the improvement of the NEP. SUHAKAM learnt during the laboratory sessions that MOE had improved the Malaysian Teachers’ Professional Code of Conduct to become Malaysia Teachers’ Ethics (MTEs) in which respect of human rights has been recognised as one of the teachers’ ethics. The new MTEs is a guideline for teachers in government and private schools. Next year, MOE will formulate the Malaysia Teachers’ Code of Ethics based on the MTEs to ensure compliance by teachers. The MOE’s initiative is commendable, and SUHAKAM is willing to provide any support MOE needs in the drafting and implementation of the Malaysia Teachers’ Code of Ethics. CHAPTER 1 1. Review of the National Education Policy