MALAYSIA - Is Moral Education just about memorising moral values, all 36 of them, word for word? Parents and students seem to believe it is the requirement for this subject, which is compulsory for both primary and secondary non-Muslim students. Director-general of education Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom clears the air with SONIA RAMACHANDRAN and CHAN MEI LING.

A MISUNDERSTANDING. This is what director-general of education Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom says about the complaints from parents on Moral Education.

The angry parents have asked if there is a point in students memorising word for word moral values for their moral education?

As one parent, Sue Thomas, put it, "Will word-for-word memorising turn out citizens with good values?"

Alimuddin says students were not required to memorise the exact words for their examinations.

"The examiners are professionals and will understand as long as the students answer the question using the right meaning.

"As long as the students understand the 36 values, that is enough.

"How can you score by just memorising 36 values?

"I think the parents have misunderstood the issue."

Alimuddin said questions for Moral Education were formulated to encourage creative and critical thinking of students.

"Sometimes, the question just contains a photograph, map or quotation, which a student cannot score by just memorising. They have to explain and elaborate."

Alimuddin said Moral Education is one of the subjects up for review by the ministry as part of curriculum reform.

"Among the aspects taken into consideration will be the content and approaches towards teaching and learning the subject."

The last curriculum review for this subject was done in 2003.

Alimuddin said Moral Education was introduced to develop responsible individuals of high moral standards who were able to contribute towards the peace and harmony of the country.

Moral Education was introduced in 1983 for primary schools and extended to secondary schools in 1989.

On students being asked by teachers to memorise the 36 moral values word-for-word, Alimuddin said: "Moral values are important for pupils to understand so that they are able to apply them in their daily lives.

"Through the teaching and learning process, pupils are introduced to the values in context, and examples are given to reinforce their understanding.

"In the teaching and learning process, it is common for teachers to question pupils' understanding of the values learnt."

He said the teaching and learning of Moral Education emphasised the good understanding of basic values.