Page 140 - Jurnal Kurikulum BPK 2020

The Revised Curriculum of KBSR dan KBSM
(Kurikulum KBSR Semakan dan Kurikulum KBSM Semakan, 2002)

In the year 1999, after 16 years and 10 years respectively of implementation of the then
existing Integrated Primary and Secondary School Curriculum (KBSR and KBSM), Ministry
of Education Malaysia had decided to revise the curriculum. The rationales for revision of the
curriculum were stated as follows (PPK, 1999b, Ng, 2010):
 fulfilling the need of the curriculum cycle as the last curriculum revision was carried out
more than ten years ago,
 injecting new, up-to-date and suitable content and pedagogy to the curriculum,
 fulfilling the aspiration of the nation to achieve 2020,
 request for change gathered through resolution from seminars and conferences as it was
found that the present curriculum did not achieve fully what was aspired, an example is the
lack of inculcation of thinking through teaching and learning, student-centered learning is
lacking in many classes.

A laborious process of curriculum planning began. A product approach was adopted
where the characteristic of students that the education system wishes to produce and the features
of the curriculum which is relevant was determined (PPK, 1999b). Relevant is defined here as
suitable, fulfilling needs, giving impact to issue at hand, related to current or future agenda,
applicable and functional (PPK, 1998d). Sources of input for these characteristics of students
and features of the curriculum were papers presented by various sectors during seminars,
concept papers, working papers, reports and other official policy documents produced by the
government, universities and the Ministry of Education. Among the main characteristics of
students identified were the ability to think creatively and critically (Ng, 2010). It was also
decided that the curriculum review would not be a total revamp of the existing curriculum but
only curriculum adjustment (PPK, 1999c, d). The focus would be on bringing about changes
in teaching strategies.

Primary and Secondary School Standards-based Curriculum and Assessment
[Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah (KSSR, 2010: KSSR Semakan, 2017),
Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Menengah, KSSM 2017)

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The 21 century poses many challenges to the education fraternity with the advent of
Industry Revolution 4.0, the borderless world created by technology as well as issues of
humanity and sustainability of the environment. MOE decided it is timely to review thoroughly
the content, pedagogy and the assessment of the existing KBSR and KBSM revised curriculum.
Thus, in 2011, a new curriculum in the form of Standard-based Primary School Curriculum
(KSSR) was launched in all primary schools. However, at the same time, the government of
Malaysia also engaged external parties such as UNESCO, World Bank as well as local higher
institutions to conduct studies to analyse the current education system and to provide
suggestions of change. Based on findings of the studies, new recommendations were made
giving rise to the National Education Blueprint, NEB 2013-2025(Ministry of Education, 2013).
Based on the input from the NEB, the KSSR was revised and at the same time the Standards-
based Secondary School Curriculum KSSM was developed. Both the reviewed KSSR and
KSSM were implemented by stages beginning 2017. Curriculum standard was determined to
ensure equity and quality of education provided to the children from the whole country.
Curriculum Standard is written in the form of Content Standard, Learning Standard and
Assessment Standard. The introduction of Curriculum Standard is also in tandem with the
launch of educational standards including the Malaysia Education Quality Standard (SKPMg)

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