A Study On The Evolution Of The Chinese Language Curriculum As Well As Teaching Materials Among The National Primary Schools In Malaysia

This paper comments on the evolution of the arrangement of the Chinese language curriculum as well as teaching materials among the national primary schools in Malaysia. A so-called national primary school is a government or government-aided primary school. Its main medium of teaching instruction is the Malay language whereas the Chinese language is known as the second language. After 1961, the Chinese language was regarded as pupils' own language. Thus, only the Chinese students were arranged to learn the language. But after 1996, the Chinese language become an additional language. It was then meant for the Chinese and non-Chinese students.Based on the Education Report and Education Act, the author investigates how the Education Policy reflects the objective laid down by the government in its directives on Chinese language curriculum which includes its features and application and its class hours among non-Chinese medium primary schools in chronological order, especially from World War II to 2008. At the same time, the author refers to the guidelines and rules set by Syllabus (Sukatan Pelajaran) and Syllabus Specification (Huraian Sukatan Pelajaran). Hence, the author investigates the evolution of the Chinese language teaching materials, which are basically based on the National Ideology (Rukunegara), National Philosophy of Education, the goals of teaching and contents of the materials. This paper highlights the general guidelines for the Chinese language teaching materials except its specific texts and structures. Based on the research, the author pins his hope on the development of the Chinese language teaching in the national primary school.