ARTICLE REVIEW

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The article that will be reviewed entitled THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORAL EDUCATION IN
MALA!IA"# The a$th%r i& Vi&halache 'ala(ri&hnan )r%* De+art*ent %) F%$ndati%n& %) Ed$cati%n
and H$*anitie&, Fac$lt- %) Ed$cati%n, Univer&it- %) Mala-a, ./0/1 2$ala L$*+$r# The re&earch i&
*ainl- ab%$t the M%ral Ed$cati%n# Onl- a hand)$l %) ed$cati%nal the%ri&t& h%ld the view that i) %nl-
the ad$lt w%rld w%$ld 3et %$t %) the wa-, children w%$ld ri+en int% )$ll- reali4ed +e%+le# M%&t thin(er&,
ed$cati%nal +ractiti%ner&, and +arent& were ac(n%wled3ed that children are b%rn hel+le&& and need
the care and 3$idance %) ad$lt& int% their teen& and %)ten be-%nd# M%re &+eci)icall-, children need t%
learn h%w t% live har*%ni%$&l- in &%ciet-# Hi&t%ricall-, the *i&&i%n %) &ch%%l& ha& been t% devel%+ in
the -%$n3 b%th the intellect$al and the *%ral virt$e&# C%ncern )%r the *%ral virt$e&, &$ch a& h%ne&t-,
re&+%n&ibilit-, and re&+ect )%r %ther&, i& the d%*ain %) *%ral ed$cati%n#
M%ral ed$cati%n, then, re)er& t% hel+in3 children ac5$ire th%&e virt$e& %r *%ral habit& that will
hel+ the* individ$all- live 3%%d live& and at the &a*e ti*e bec%*e +r%d$ctive, c%ntrib$tin3 *e*ber&
%) their c%**$nitie&# In thi& view, *%ral ed$cati%n &h%$ld c%ntrib$te n%t %nl- t% the &t$dent& a&
individ$al&, b$t al&% t% the &%cial c%he&i%n %) a c%**$nit-# The w%rd *%ral c%*e& )r%* a Latin r%%t
6*%&, *%ri&7 and *ean& the c%de %r c$&t%*& %) a +e%+le, the &%cial 3l$e that de)ine& h%w individ$al&
&h%$ld live t%3ether#
Ever- end$rin3 c%**$nit- ha& a *%ral c%de and it i& the re&+%n&ibilit- and the c%ncern %) it&
ad$lt& t% in&till thi& c%de in the heart& and *ind& %) it& -%$n3# !ince the advent %) &ch%%lin3, ad$lt&
have e8+ected the &ch%%l& t% c%ntrib$te +%&itivel- t% the *%ral ed$cati%n %) children# 9hen the )ir&t
c%**%n &ch%%l& were )%$nded in the New 9%rld, *%ral ed$cati%n wa& the +ri*e c%ncern# New
En3land P$ritan& believed the *%ral c%de re&ided in the 'ible# There)%re, it wa& i*+erative that
children be ta$3ht t% read, th$& havin3 acce&& t% it& 3r%$ndin3 wi&d%*# A& earl- a& :0;< the c%l%n-
%) Ma&&ach$&ett& +a&&ed a law re5$irin3 +arent& t% ed$cate their children# In :0;= the )a*%$& Old
Del$der !atan Act &tren3thened the law# 9ith%$t the abilit- t% read the !cri+t$re&, children w%$ld be
+re- t% the &nare& %) !atan#
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2.0 SUMMARY
The Mala-&ian ed$cati%n &-&te* *a(e& M%ral !t$die& c%*+$l&%r- )%r n%n>M$&li* &t$dent& at
&ec%ndar- and +ri*ar- &ch%%l&# M$&li* &t$dent& in&tead +arta(e in I&la*ic !t$die& le&&%n&# '%th
&$b?ect& )i3$re a*%n3 the &even c%*+$l&%r- &$b?ect& $nderta(en b- &t$dent& )%r the !i?il Pela?aran
Mala-&ia# There ha& been c%n&iderable debate ab%$t the $&e)$lne&& %) the @M%ral@ &$b?ect, +ri*aril-
d$e t% the &trict e8a*>%riented *ar(in3>&che*e&#
In Mala-&ia, Pendidi(an M%ral 6Mala- )%r @M%ral !t$die&@7 i& %ne %) the c%re &$b?ect& in the
!i?il Pela?aran Mala-&ia 6!PM7 e8a*inati%n# It i& a re5$ired &$b?ect )%r all n%n>M$&li* &t$dent& in the
+$blic ed$cati%n &-&te* in Mala-&ia# M$&li* &t$dent& are re5$ired t% ta(e the I&la*ic !t$die& 6Mala-A
Pendidi(an I&la*7 c%$r&e#
In the earl- :BC/&, a*id the wide&+read c%ncern %ver &t$dent&D +%%r acade*ic achieve*ent&
and behavi%r, ed$cat%r& redi&c%vered the w%rd character# M%ral ed$cati%n had a reli3i%$& tin3e,
which *ade *an- $nea&-# Character with it& e*+ha&i& %n )%r*in3 3%%d habit& and eli*inatin3 +%%r
habit& &tr$c( a +%+$lar and traditi%nal ch%rd# The w%rd character ha& a Eree( r%%t, c%*in3 )r%* the
verb @t% en3rave#@ Th$& character &+ea(& t% the active +r%ce&& %) *a(in3 *ar(& %r &i3n& 6i#e#, 3%%d
habit&7 %n %neD& +er&%n# The earl- )%r*ati%n %) 3%%d habit& i& widel- ac(n%wled3ed t% be in the be&t
intere&t& %) b%th the individ$al and &%ciet-#
In additi%n, character )%r*ati%n i& rec%3ni4ed a& &%*ethin3 that +arent& be3in earl-, b$t the
w%r( i& hardl- c%*+leted when a child 3%e& t% &ch%%l# I*+licit in the c%nce+t %) character i& the
rec%3niti%n that ad$lt& be3in the en3ravin3 +r%ce&& %) habit$ati%n t% c%n&iderati%n %) %ther&, &el)>
c%ntr%l, and re&+%n&ibilit-, then teacher& and %ther& c%ntrib$te t% the w%r(, b$t event$all- the -%$n3
+er&%n ta(e& %ver the en3ravin3 %r )%r*ati%n %) hi& %wn character# Clearl-, th%$3h, with their learnin3
de*and& and ta8in3 event&, childrenD& &ch%%l -ear& are a +ri*e %++%rt$nit- )%r +%&itive and ne3ative
6i#e#, virt$e& and vice&7 character )%r*ati%n#
The i*+et$& and ener3- behind the ret$rn %) character ed$cati%n t% A*erican &ch%%l& did n%t
c%*e )r%* within the ed$cati%nal c%**$nit-# It ha& been &+ar(ed, )ir&t, b- +arental de&ire )%r %rderl-
&ch%%l& where &tandard& %) behavi%r and 3%%d habit& are &tre&&ed, and, &ec%nd, b- &tate and
nati%nal +%litician& wh% re&+%nded t% the&e an8i%$& c%ncern& %) +arent&# D$rin3 hi& +re&idenc-,
9illia* Clint%n h%&ted )ive c%n)erence& %n character ed$cati%n# Pre&ident Ee%r3e 9# '$&h
e8+anded %n the +r%3ra*& %) the +revi%$& ad*ini&trati%n and *ade character ed$cati%n a *a?%r
)%c$& %) hi& ed$cati%nal re)%r* a3enda# One %) the +%liticall- a++ealin3 a&+ect& %) character
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ed$cati%n, a& %++%&ed t% *%ral ed$cati%n with it& reli3i%$& %vert%ne&, i& that character ed$cati%n
&+ea(& *%re t% the )%r*ati%n %) a 3%%d citi4en# A widel- re+eated de)initi%n 6i#e#, character ed$cati%n
i& hel+in3 a child t% (n%w the 3%%d, t% de&ire the 3%%d, and t% d% the 3%%d7 &traddle& thi& i&&$e# F%r
&%*e +e%+le the internal )%c$& %) character ed$cati%n c%*)%rtabl- can be b%th reli3i%$& and civic and
)%r %ther& the )%c$& can be &trictl- civic, dealin3 e8cl$&ivel- %n the )%r*ati%n %) the 3%%d citi4en#
The %verwhel*in3 +ercenta3e %) e))%rt& within the +$blic ed$cati%n t% addre&& the *%ral
d%*ain c$rrentl- *arched $nder the )la3 %) character ed$cati%n# F$rther*%re, &ince the&e c%n&ci%$&
e))%rt& at addre&&in3 i&&$e& %) character )%r*ati%n are relativel- recent, the- are %)ten
called character ed$cati%n +r%3ra*&# The ter* +r%3ra* &$33e&t&, h%wever, di&crete initiative& that
re+lace an activit- %r that are added t% the &ch%%lD& c$rric$l$* 6e#3#, a new readin3 +r%3ra* %r
*athe*atic& +r%3ra*7# Alth%$3h there are character ed$cati%n +r%3ra*& available, c%**erciall- and
%therwi&e, *%&t adv%cate& $r3e the +$blic &ch%%l& t% ta(e an in)$&i%n a++r%ach t% ed$catin3 )%r
character#
In 3eneral, an in)$&i%n a++r%ach t% character ed$cati%n ai*& t% re&t%re the )%r*ati%n %)
&t$dent&D character& t% a central +lace in &ch%%lin3# Rather than &i*+l- addin3 %n character )%r*ati%n
t% the %ther re&+%n&ibilitie& %) &ch%%l&, &$ch a& n$*erac-, literac-, career ed$cati%n, health
ed$cati%n, and %ther 3%al&, a )%c$& %n 3%%d character +er*eate& the entire &ch%%l e8+erience# In
e&&ence, character ed$cati%n ?%in& intellect$al devel%+*ent a& the %verarchin3 3%al& %) the &ch%%l#
M%re%ver, character ed$cati%n i& &een, n%t in c%*+etiti%n with %r ancillar- t% (n%wled3e and &(ill
ac5$i&iti%n 3%al&, b$t a& an i*+%rtant c%ntrib$t%r t% the&e 3%al&# T% create a health- learnin3
envir%n*ent, &t$dent& need t% devel%+ the virt$e& %) re&+%n&ibilit- and re&+ect )%r %ther&# The- *$&t
eli*inate habit& %) la4ine&& and &l%++ine&& and ac5$ire habit& %) &el)>c%ntr%l and dili3ence# The
in)$&i%n a++r%ach i& ba&ed %n the view that the 3%%d habit& that c%ntrib$te t% the )%r*ati%n %)
character in t$rn c%ntrib$te directl- t% the acade*ic 3%al& %) &ch%%lin3#
A )%$ndati%n %) the in)$&i%n a++r%ach i& the rec%ver-, reca&tin3, %r creatin3 %) a &ch%%lD&
*i&&i%n &tate*ent, %ne that re)lect& the +ri%rit- +laced %n the devel%+*ent %) 3%%d character# !$ch a
&tate*ent le3iti*i4e& the attenti%n %) ad$lt& and &t$dent& ali(e t% thi& ed$cati%nal 3%al# It tell&
ad*ini&trat%r& that teacher& and &ta)) &h%$ld be hired with 3%%d character a& a criteri%nF it tell&
teacher& that n%t %nl- &h%$ld character be &tre&&ed t% &t$dent& b$t al&% their %wn character& are %n
di&+la-F it tell& c%ache& that athletic& &h%$ld be &een thr%$3h the len& %) &+%rt&*an&hi+ rather than
winnin3 and l%&in3F and it tell& &t$dent& that their e))%rt& and di))ic$ltie&, their &$cce&&e& and
di&a++%int*ent& are all +art %) a lar3er +r%ce&&, the )%r*ati%n %) their character&#
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Critical t% the in)$&i%n a++r%ach i& $&in3 the c$rric$l$* a& a &%$rce %) character ed$cati%n#
Thi& i& +artic$larl- tr$e %) the lan3$a3e art&, &%cial &t$die&, and hi&t%r- c$rric$la# The +ri*ar- )%c$& %)
the&e &$b?ect& i& the &t$d- %) h$*an bein3&, real and )ictiti%$&# O$r 3reat narrative tale& carr- *%ral
le&&%n&# The- c%nve- t% the -%$n3 vivid i*a3e& %) the (ind& %) +e%+le %$r c$lt$re ad*ire& and want&
the* t% e*$late# The&e &$b?ect& al&% &h%w the* h%w live& can be wa&ted, %r w%r&e, h%w +e%+le can
betra- the*&elve& and their c%**$nitie&# Learnin3 ab%$t the her%i&* %) )%r*er &lave !%?%$rner
Tr$th, wh% beca*e an evan3eli&t and re)%r*er, and the treacher- %) 'enedict Arn%ld, the A*erican
ar*- %))icer wh% betra-ed hi& c%$ntr- t% the 'riti&h, i& *%re than +ic(in3 $+ hi&t%rical in)%r*ati%n#
Enc%$nterin3 the&e live& )ire& the &t$dentD& *%ral i*a3inati%n and dee+en& hi& $nder&tandin3 %) what
c%n&tit$te& a li)e %) character# Other &$b?ect&, &$ch a& *athe*atic& and &cience, can teach &t$dent&
the nece&&it- %) intellect$al h%ne&t-# The c$rric$la %) %$r &ch%%l& n%t %nl- c%ntain the c%re (n%wled3e
%) %$r c$lt$re b$t al&% %$r *%ral herita3e#
In additi%n t% the )%r*al %r %vert c$rric$l$*, &ch%%l& and cla&&r%%*& al&% have a hidden %r
c%vert c$rric$l$*# A &ch%%lD& rit$al&, traditi%n&, r$le&, and +r%ced$re& have an i*+act %n &t$dent&D
&en&e %) what i& ri3ht and wr%n3F and what i& de&ired and $nde&ired behavi%r# !%, t%%, d%e& the
&ch%%lD& &t$dent c$lt$re# 9hat 3%e& %n in the l$nchr%%*, the bathr%%*&, the l%c(er r%%*&, and %n
the b$& c%nve-& +%wer)$l *e&&a3e& t% &t$dent&# Thi& eth%& %r *%ral cli*ate %) a &ch%%l i& di))ic$lt t%
%b&erve and neatl- cate3%ri4e# Neverthele&&, it i& the )%c$& %) &eri%$& attenti%n b- ed$cat%r&
c%**itted t% an in)$&i%n a++r%ach#
An i*+%rtant ele*ent %) the in)$&i%n a++r%ach i& the lan3$a3e with which a &ch%%l c%**$nit-
addre&&e& i&&$e& %) character and the *%ral d%*ain# Teacher& and ad*ini&trat%r& c%**itted t% an
in)$&i%n a++r%ach $&e the lan3$a3e %) virt$e& and &+ea( %) 3%%d and +%%r behavi%r and %) ri3ht and
wr%n3# 9%rd& &$ch a& re&+%n&ibilit-, re&+ect, h%ne&t-, and +er&everance are +art %) the w%r(in3
v%cab$lar- %) ad$lt& and &t$dent& ali(e#
One %) the *%&t +%+$lar a++r%ache& t% character ed$cati%n i& &ervice learnin3# !%*eti*e&
called c%**$nit- &ervice, thi& a++r%ach i& a c%n&ci%$& e))%rt t% 3ive &t$dent& %++%rt$nitie&,
3$idance, and +ractice at bein3 *%ral act%r&# 'a&ed %n the Eree( +hil%&%+her Ari&t%tleD& c%nce+t %)
character )%r*ati%n 6e#3#, a *an bec%*e& virt$%$& b- +er)%r*in3 virt$%$& deed&F brave b- d%in3
brave deed&7, *an- &ch%%l& and &ch%%l di&trict& have c%*+rehen&ive +r%3ra*& %) &ervice learnin3#
!tartin3 in (inder3arten, children are 3iven &*all ch%re& &$ch a& )eedin3 the cla&&r%%*D& 3erbil %r
&trai3htenin3 the de&(& and chair&# The- later *%ve %n t% t$t%rin3 -%$n3er &t$dent& and event$all-
w%r( $+ t% *%re de*andin3 &ervice activitie& in the )inal -ear& %) hi3h &ch%%l# T-+icall-, the&e hi3h>
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&ch%%l level &ervice>learnin3 activitie& are %))>ca*+$& at a h%*e )%r the blind, a h%&+ital, %r a da->
care center# 'e&ide& +lace*ent, the &ch%%l +r%vide& trainin3, 3$idance, and +r%ble*>&%lvin3 &$++%rt
t% &t$dent& a& the- enc%$nter +r%ble*& and di))ic$ltie&#
In recent -ear&, &ch%%l& acr%&& the c%$ntr- have ad%+ted the virt$e 6%r val$e7 %) the *%nth
a++r%ach, where the entire &ch%%l c%**$nit- 3ive& +artic$lar attenti%n t% a 5$alit- &$ch a&
c%%+erati%n %r (indne&&# C%n&iderati%n %) the virt$e )%r that +artic$lar *%nth i& re)lected in the
c$rric$l$*, in &+ecial a&&e*blie&, in hallwa- and cla&&r%%* di&+la-&, and in &ch%%l>h%*e
new&letter&# Related t% thi& are &ch%%l wide +r%3ra*&, &$ch a& n% +$t>d%wn& +r%?ect&, where
attenti%n i& )%c$&ed %n the de&tr$ctive and h$rt)$l e))ect& %) &arca&* and in&$ltin3 lan3$a3e and
&t$dent& are ta$3ht t% re+lace +$t>d%wn& with civil )%r*& %) c%**$nicati%n#
There are &everal &(ill>devel%+*ent and cla&&r%%* &trate3ie& that are %)ten related t%
character )%r*ati%n# A*%n3 the *%re wide&+read are teachin3 *ediati%n and c%n)lict>re&%l$ti%n
&(ill&, where &t$dent& are 3iven direct teachin3 in h%w t% deal with di&a3ree*ent& and +%tential )i3ht&
a*%n3 )ell%w &t$dent&# Man- adv%cate& %) c%%+erative learnin3 a&&ert that in&tr$ctin3 &t$dent& $&in3
thi& in&tr$cti%nal +r%ce&& ha& the added bene)it %) teachin3 &t$dent& habit& %) hel+in3 %ther& and
)%r*in3 )riend&hi+& a*%n3 &t$dent& with wh%* the- %therwi&e w%$ld n%t *i8#
The *%ral ed$cati%n %) children i& a *atter %) dee+ c%ncern t% ever-%ne )r%* +arent& t% civic
and reli3i%$& leader&# It i& n% accident, then, that thi& &$b?ect ha& been a *atter %) a++rehen&i%n and
c%ntr%ver&- thr%$3h%$t the hi&t%r- %) A*erican &ch%%l&# I&&$e& %) *%ralit- t%$ch an individ$alD& *%&t
)$nda*ental belie)&# !ince A*erican& are b- internati%nal &tandard& b%th 5$ite reli3i%$&l- %b&ervant
and 5$ite reli3i%$&l- diver&e, it i& n%t &$r+ri&in3 that *%ral and character ed$cati%n c%ntr%ver&ie&
%)ten have a reli3i%$& &%$rce# Partic$larl- a)ter a +eri%d when *%ral ed$cati%n wa& n%t %n the a3enda
%) *%&t +$blic &ch%%l&, it& ret$rn i& $n&ettlin3 t% &%*e citi4en&# Man- wh% are h%&tile t% reli3i%n &ee
thi& renewed intere&t in *%ral ed$cati%n a& brin3in3 reli3i%$& +er&+ective& bac( int% the &ch%%l
@thr%$3h the bac( d%%r#@ On the %ther hand, *an- reli3i%$& +e%+le are &$&+ici%$& %) it& ret$rn
beca$&e the- +erceive it t% be an atte*+t t% $nder*ine their )a*il-D& reli3i%$&>ba&ed trainin3 with a
&tate>&+%n&%red &ec$lar h$*ani&*# A& %) the be3innin3 %) the twent->)ir&t cent$r-, h%wever, the
renewed attenti%n t% thi& area ha& been relativel- )ree %) c%ntr%ver&-#
C%ntrib$tin3 t% the +%&itive cli*ate i& the $&e %) the ter* character rather
than *%ral# 9hile *%ral carrie& reli3i%$& %vert%ne& )%r *an-, the w%rd character &+ea(& t% 3%%d
habit& and the civic virt$e&, which h%ld a c%**$nit- t%3ether and all%w $& t% live t%3ether in
har*%n-#
5
A &ec%nd i&&$e relate& t% the level %) &ch%%l& and the a3e %) &t$dent&# The revival %) character
ed$cati%n in %$r &ch%%l& ha& been evident t% a *$ch 3reater de3ree in ele*entar- &ch%%l&# Here
&ch%%l& can c%ncentrate %n the *%ral ba&ic& )%r which there i& wide +$blic c%n&en&$&# The &a*e i&
tr$e, b$t t% a &%*ewhat le&&er de3ree, )%r *iddle and ?$ni%r hi3h &ch%%l&# And alth%$3h there are
*an- +%&itive e8a*+le& %) &ec%ndar- &ch%%l& that have i*+le*ented br%ad and e))ective character
ed$cati%n +r%3ra*&, &ec%ndar- &ch%%l )ac$ltie& are he&itant t% e*brace character ed$cati%n# Part %)
it i& the de+art*ental &tr$ct$re& and the ti*e de*and& %) the c$rric$l$*F +art %) it i& the a3e and
&%+hi&ticati%n %) their &t$dent&F and +art %) it i& that )ew &ec%ndar- &ch%%l teacher& believe the- have
a clear *andate t% deal with i&&$e& %) *%ralit- and character#
A third i&&$e relate& t% the ed$cati%n %) teacher&# 9herea& %nce teacher& in trainin3 t%%(
+hil%&%+h- and hi&t%r- %) ed$cati%nGc%$r&e& that intr%d$ced the* t% the A*erican &ch%%lD& traditi%nal
inv%lve*ent with *%ral and character ed$cati%nGn%w )ew &tate& re5$ire the&e c%$r&e&# At the
be3innin3 %) the twent->)ir&t cent$r-, the A*erican &ch%%l& are &eein3 the lar3e>&cale retire*ent %)
career teacher& and their re+lace*ent with lar3e n$*ber& %) new teacher&# The&e -%$n3 teacher&
tend t% be +r%d$ct& %) ele*entar- and &ec%ndar- &ch%%l& where teacher& 3ave little %r n% direct
attenti%n t% *%ral and character ed$cati%n# In additi%n, a :BBB &t$d- b- the Character Ed$cati%n
Partner&hi+ %) hal) %) the nati%nD& teacher ed$cati%n in&tit$ti%n& &h%wed that alth%$3h %ver B/ +ercent
%) the leader& %) the&e +r%3ra*& th%$3ht character ed$cati%n %$3ht t% be a +ri%rit- in the +re+arati%n
%) teacher&, %nl- :1 +ercent were &ati&)ied with their in&tit$ti%nD& e))%rt&#
There are a )ew character ed$cati%n +r%3ra*& with enc%$ra3in3 eval$ati%n re&$lt&# The
Character Devel%+*ent Pr%?ect 6CDP7 ha& *%re than :C -ear& %) inv%lve*ent in &everal 2G0
&ch%%l&, and in th%&e &ch%%l& where teacher& received &ta)) devel%+*ent and %n>&ite &$++%rt %ver .<
+ercent %) the &t$dent %$tc%*e variable& &h%wed &i3ni)icant di))erence&# The '%- !c%$t& %) A*erica
devel%+ed the Learnin3 F%r Li)e C$rric$l$* in the earl- :BB/& )%r ele*entar- &ch%%l&# Thi&
c%**erciall- available, &tand>al%ne c$rric$l$* teache& c%re *%ral val$e&, &$ch a& h%ne&t- and
re&+%n&ibilit-# In a lar3e>&cale c%ntr%lled e8+eri*ent inv%lvin3 )i)t->nine &ch%%l&, &t$dent& e8+%&ed t%
the Learnin3 F%r Li)e *aterial& &h%wed &i3ni)icant 3ain& %n their $nder&tandin3 %) the c$rric$l$*D&
c%re val$e&, b$t the- were al&% ?$d3ed b- their teacher& t% have 3ained 3reater &el)>di&ci+line and
abilit- t% &ta- %n a ta&(#
!till, eval$ati%n and a&&e&&*ent in character and *%ral ed$cati%n i& be&t de&cribed a& a w%r(
in +r%3re&&# The )ield i& held bac( b- the lac( %) an acce+ted batter- %) reliable in&tr$*ent&, a lac( %)
wide a3ree*ent %n individ$al %r &ch%%l wide %$tc%*e&, and b- the &h%rt>ter* nat$re %) *%&t %) the
6
e8i&tent &t$die&# C%*+licatin3 the&e li*itati%n& i& a lar3er %neA the lac( %) the%retical a3ree*ent %)
what character i&# H$*an character i& %ne %) th%&e %verarchin3 entitie& that i& the &$b?ect %) di&ci+le&
)r%* +hil%&%+h- t% the%l%3-, )r%* +&-ch%l%3- t% &%ci%l%3-# F$rther, even within the&e di&ci+line&
there are c%*+etin3 and c%n)lictin3 the%rie& and $nder&tandin3& %) the nat$re %) h$*an character#
'$t alth%$3h the eval$ati%n challen3e& are da$ntin3, the- are dwar)ed b- the *a3nit$de %) the ad$lt
c%**$nit-D& de&ire t% &ee that %$r children +%&&e&& a *%ral c%*+a&& and the 3%%d habit& ba&ic t%
&%$nd character#
3.0 REFLECTION
Reli3i%n &t$die& are *$ch better than M%ral !t$die&, which i& an e8a* %riented cla&&#
Reli3i%$& Ed$cati%n i& the ter* 3iven t% ed$cati%n c%nte8t c%ncerned with reli3i%n# It *a- re)er t%
ed$cati%n +r%vided b- a ch$rch %r reli3i%$& %r3ani4ati%n, )%r in&tr$cti%n in d%ctrine and )aith, %r )%r
ed$cati%n in vari%$& a&+ect& %) reli3i%n, b$t with%$t e8+licitl- reli3i%$& %r *%ral ai*&, e#3# in a &ch%%l
%r c%lle3e# The ter* %)ten %verla+& with Reli3i%$& &t$die&# Reli3i%$& &t$die& are the acade*ic )ield %)
*$lti>di&ci+linar-, &ec$lar &t$d- %) reli3i%$& belie)&, behavi%r&, and in&tit$ti%n&# It de&cribe&,
c%*+are&, inter+ret&, and e8+lain& reli3i%n, e*+ha&i4in3 &-&te*atic, hi&t%ricall- ba&ed, and cr%&&>
c$lt$ral +er&+ective&# The &ch%%l need& reli3i%$& &t$die& n%t reli3i%n &t$die&# The %nl- ri&( )act%r i&,
the ed$cati%n de+art*ent &h%$ld en&$re that n% teacher& with reli3i%n e8tre*i&t bac(3r%$nd &h%$ld
be all%wed teachin3 the &$b?ect# I &till re*e*ber the Mala-&ian &t$die& &$b?ect in +$blic $niver&it-
wa& *i&treated b- &%*e reli3i%n )anatic lect$rer t% +r%+a3ate their belie) t% &t$dent&, even &t$dent&
)r%* di))erent reli3i%n bac(3r%$nd# The &t$dent& were $nder3%in3 *ental t%rt$re )%r 1>; -ear& ?$&t t%
+a&& the e8a*inati%n# I h%+e thi& will n%t ha++en t% &t$dent& ta(in3 Reli3i%$& &t$die& in &ec%ndar-
&ch%%l&#
I) the &t$dent& have &t$died reli3i%n &t$die&, there i& n%t nece&&ar- )%r the* t% ta(e *%ral
ed$cati%n, ?$&t li(e the M$&li* &t$dent& wh% ta(e I&la*ic !t$die&# F%r &t$dent& that d% n%t bel%n3 t%
an- reli3i%n 3r%$+, with the +arentH& c%n&ent, he can attend an- %) the reli3i%n cla&& %r %+ted )%r cla&&
li(e c%*+arative reli3i%n&, %r a liberal art &$b?ect& %r )%rei3n lan3$a3e &$b?ect&#
Pendidi(an M%ral, al%n3 with I&la*ic !t$die&, i& 3%verned b- the De+art*ent %) I&la*ic and
M%ral !t$die& 6IAPIM7, a branch $nder the Mini&tr- %) Hi3her Ed$cati%n# The c%re %) the &-llab$& i&
the 10 *%ral val$e& 6called @nilai@ in Mala-7# The&e val$e& incl$de @2e+erca-aan (e+ada T$han@
6creed7, @'ertan33$n3?awab@ 6re&+%n&ibilit-7 and @!i(a+ 2eterb$(aan@ 6%+en>*indedne&&7 a*%n3
7
%ther&# The 10 val$e& are divided cate3%ri4ed int% = *a?%r )ield& %) &t$d- 6called @bidan3@ in Mala-7,
na*el-A
Per(e*ban3an Diri 6&el)>devel%+*ent7
2e(el$ar3aan 6)a*il-7
Ala* !e(itar 6nat$re7
Patri%ti&*e 6+atri%ti&*7
Ha( A&a&i Man$&ia 6h$*an ri3ht&7
De*%(ra&i 6de*%crac-7
2ea*anan dan 2ehar*%nian 6+eace and har*%n-7#
The&e val$e& are +re&ented in detail in te8tb%%(& and )%r* the ba&i& %) c%rre&+%ndin3
e8a*inati%n&# Each val$e i& de)ined b- the Ed$cati%n Mini&tr-# An&werin3 e8a*inati%n 5$e&ti%n&
re5$ire& &%*e inter+retati%n %) the&e de)initi%n&#
Pendidi(an M%ral i& %)ten learned b- r%te# Teacher& in &ch%%l& tend t% c%ncentrate %n
an&werin3 techni5$e& rather than the teachin3 *aterial +r%vided in the te8tb%%(# In&tead %)
inter+retin3 the a++r%+riate val$e ba&ed %n the in)%r*ati%n 3iven, &t$dent& are ta$3ht t% l%%( )%r
&+eci)ic (e-w%rd& in the de&cri+ti%n and identi)- the c%rre&+%ndin3 *%ral val$e# Th$&, &trict
*e*%ri4ati%n %) the val$e& i& re5$ired with%$t an- e*+ha&i& %n $nder&tandin3 %r a++licati%n# There
have been &$33e&ti%n& t% re)%r* the &-&te* and inc%r+%rate %ther )%r*& %) a&&e&&*ent and n%t rel-
c%*+letel- %n written e8a*inati%n& b$t th$& )ar, the- have n%t been i*+le*ented#
8