Fadhlina: Malaysia to introduce Thai, Khmer, and Vietnamese as elective subjects in schools to strengthen ASEAN relations

GEORGE TOWN, April 21 — Malaysia is broadening its elective language options in schools to include ASEAN languages such as Thai, Khmer, and Vietnamese, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced today.

Speaking at the Empowering Education Summit 2025, she highlighted that Malaysia’s strong bilingual foundation in Bahasa Malaysia and English is evolving to support greater regional cooperation.

“To fully leverage this advantage, we must nurture a generation that is multilingual, adaptable, and culturally aware,” she said in her keynote address.

She described the summit’s theme, “Shaping ASEAN’s Future Through Skills and Innovation,” as both timely and critical, noting that over half of ASEAN’s 670 million population is under the age of 35.

“This youthful population is a strategic asset, but it could quickly become a liability if we fail to act decisively,” she warned.

Fadhlina referenced an Asian Development Bank report that projects nearly 60 per cent of jobs in the region could be disrupted by automation by 2030.

“Yet many students are still subjected to rote learning and outdated curricula,” she said, calling for a shift towards creativity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning to keep education relevant.

She emphasized that Malaysia is aligning its education reforms with the ASEAN Work Plan on Education, with a focus on curriculum updates, teacher training, and industry-aligned Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

The revised secondary school curriculum (KSSM) now prioritizes digital competencies, and the DELIMa platform is helping to expand digital learning access.

More than 100,000 teachers are being trained in digital teaching methods through collaborations with Google, UNESCO, and local universities, she added.

TVET programmes, particularly in Johor and Penang, are being co-developed with the electronics and electrical (E&E) industry to create targeted semiconductor training pathways.

Fadhlina also highlighted the integration of artificial intelligence in classrooms as part of Malaysia’s National AI Roadmap, along with expanded STEM initiatives aimed at underserved communities.

To bridge the digital divide, hybrid solar-powered classrooms and satellite internet are being rolled out to 180 remote schools in Sabah and Sarawak.

She also pointed to the newly established National Child Development Centre in Putrajaya as a regional benchmark for quality preschool education, with a focus on cognitive development, nutrition, and teacher preparation.