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SUHAKAM
2. The Introduction of Civic Education in Schools
SUHAKAM applauds MOE’s efforts in re-introducing civics education
at the pre-school, primary and secondary school levels through Civic
Education Exemplar Modules as well as a Manual on Civic Consciousness
and Practising Good Values during Assembly, throughout the year.
During the Civic Focus Group discussions held on 5 and 26 March,
SUHAKAM gave its comments on the draft Exemplar Modules. SUHAKAM’s
representatives led by Commissioner Associate Professor Dr. Nik Salida
Suhaila Nik Saleh relayed SUHAKAM’s comments and suggestions, interalia on the correct interpretation of rights and duties and information
regarding the international human rights conventions. They also shared
SUHAKAM’s materials on human rights. Apart from that, MOE’s Islamic
Education Department, which is in charge of developing the Manual
on Civic Consciousness and Practising Good Values during Assembly
consulted with SUHAKAM on 3 January. The National Civic Education
programme was then implemented in schools starting in June.
On 13 August, Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed launched the
National Civic Education programme and SUHAKAM was honoured to
be invited to witness the event. It was further encouraging to discover
that some of SUHAKAM’s informative materials and inputs were now in
the modules as references and reading materials.
Teachers joyfully demonstrating the ‘Jaringan Kasih’activity from the Post PT3 Human
Rights Module during the Training of Trainers on the module for the central region.