The development of mathematics curriculum in Malaysia

The development of Mathematics Curriculum in Malaysia had started before

the Second World War (WW II: 1941). Before that, our mathematics syllabus in
Peninsula Malaysia was not standardised, which means that all type of school were
freely to choose any text books and topics which considered suitable for the
students. The mathematics curriculum become standardised and officially only after
the year of 1956 when the Razak Report suggested that there should be a formal
curriculum for all government schools. In the respect, an official common syllabus for
mathematics curriculum was planed and later was implemented after 1956.
However, this common syllabus was only a slightly change in some arithmetic topics
and certain topics.

It was not until 1970’s when the Special Project was implemented. This
Special Project was set up by the previous Ministry of Education of Malaysia and
headed by En. Abu Hassan bin Ali in the year of 1968. The objective was to improve
the standard of mathematics and science in primary level following the trend and
development of Modern Mathematics in advanced countries. This project was funded
by the Asian Foundation (Yayasan Asia) and some of the American Peace Corps
members were invited as advisers of this project. Materials for the teaching and
learning of mathematics were designed by lecturers and mathematics teachers who
had their training overseas. There were only minor changes in the contents of the
mathematics syllabus in the Malaysian primary school in this Special Project.
However, new approach, strategy and method of presentation were introduced which
is the pupil-centered strategy and the inquiry-discovery method. This Special Project
was being launched as a pilot project in the year 1970. About 30 schools in Kuala
Lumpur were chosen as a trial centers. Eventually, this programme was modified
and improved from time being and was adopted in primary schools until it was
replaced by KBSR Mathematics syllabus which was fully implemented in 1983.

In 1983, the Modern Mathematics Curriculum was modified become the

KBSR Mathematics. The difference was the arrangement with reduction of some
mathematics contents to suit the pupils’ ability to master the skill. The mathematics
syllabus was divided into two levels. Level 1 (Year 1 – 3) emphasized the mastering
of the basic concepts of numbers and their four basic operations. Level 2 (Year 4 –
6) emphasized application of the basic skill in solving mathematics problems. This
programme was aimed at providing equal opportunity for every pupil to acquire
knowledge, skills, attitudes, rules and desired common social practice in society. The
main aim of KBSR was to enable pupils to develop their counting skills. To achieve
the aim, pupils must first attempt to master the basic mathematics skills.

The Primary School New Curriculum (KBSR) was changed to Primary School
Integrated Curriculum in the respect to achieve the noble ambition envisaged in the
National Education Philosophy. The aim of KBSR Mathematics could be expressed
as follow:
 “The main aim of Primary School Mathematics Education was
to improve and develop the understanding of number concept and
acquiring basic calculation skills. These would help pupils to solve
daily problems effectively. In addition, pupils would learn to
appreciate mathematics. The mathematical knowledge gained would
also help pupil to manage their daily activities systematically, thus
fulfilling the requirements for our society and nation to progress as
well as to help our pupils to further their studies in time to come”

(The Primary School Mathematics Syllabus: April 1993)

The Primary School Mathematics Syllabus which was revised again in 1998,
allowing all pupils to acquire basic mathematics skills and to us the acquired skills in
daily situations at all levels. The Syllabus Committee responsible for KBSR
Mathematics has grouped all the required learning skills into 9 main topics, which
was listed according to their sequence as follow:

1. Whole numbers and their operations

2. Fractions and their operations

3. Decimal and their operations

4. Money

5. Measurement of Lengths and Weights

Reference:

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