Articles

Strategy is the end product of strategic planning process, which normally also incorporates the control mechanisms for guiding the implementation of the strategy. Strategic planning looks into the future to paint a picture of that future based on current trends. This presentation describes the strategic planning process of developing the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025, which is used a reference to transform the Malaysian education system in accordance to the demand of 21st century. The Blueprint was developed with three objectives: 1) Understanding the current performance and challenges of the Malaysian education system, with a focus on improving access to education, raising standards (quality), closing achievement gaps (equity), fostering unity amongst students, and maximizing system efficiency, 2) Establishing a clear vision and aspirations for individual students and the education system as a whole over the next 13 years; and 3) Outlining a comprehensive transformation program for the system, including key changes to the Ministry. Multiple perspectives of inputs were considered in the development of the Blueprint. These included inputs and assessment from various experts and agencies from international and local, the general public and analysis of past policies documents and research reports. From these inputs, two aspirations were established - firstly, those for the education system as a whole, and secondly, those for individual students. These two aspirations set the stage for transformation of the Malaysian education system. The Blueprint suggested 11 shifts that will need to occur to achieve the envisioned education’s goals. Each shift addresses at least one of the five system outcomes of access, quality, equity, unity and efficiency, with quality as the common underlying focus across all shifts because this dimension requires the most urgent attention. Each shift comes with the underlying initiatives. As such, prioritization of initiatives is crucial to avoid overtaxed and execution fatigue and transformation is sequenced to occur in three waves. To ensure successful transformation as envisioned in the Blueprint, the Ministry has identified and committed to four differentiated actions in delivering the roadmap