PRAYER FOR GOVERNMENT

FOCUS IN JUNE : MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

 

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Minister: Datuk Dr. Mohd Radzi Md Jidin

Deputy Minister 1: Dato’ Dr. Mah Hang Soon

Deputy Minister 2: Datuk Mohamad Bin Haji Alamin

 

In October 2011, the Ministry of Education launched a comprehensive review of the education system in Malaysia in order to develop a new National Education Blueprint. The decision was made in the context of raising national education standards, better preparing Malaysia’s children for the needs of the 21st century, and increasing public and parental expectations of education policy. As result, the National Education Blueprint 2013 – 2025 was developed.

The Blueprint aspires to produce “access, quality, equity, unity, and efficiency” within the education system in Malaysia.

  • Access – The Blueprint has an ambitious target of 100% enrolment across all levels from pre-school to upper secondary by 2020.

We give thanks that our Government has education high in its priority list, but the fact is that there are still many children, especially in the rural and remote areas, who do not have access to education due to various reasons including poor infrastructure and transportation challenges.

Without access to proper education, many indigenous communities will continue to be trapped within the vicious cycle of poverty and struggle to be self-sustainable.

  • Pray for internet connectivity and provision of laptops, Ipads, etc to students in poor rural areas

The pandemic which has changed the mode of education to online classes has also created access challenges to children who do not have devices and internet access. Pray that the government will pour in more resources, and look into access to education for children in rural / remote areas.

  • Pray for the Stateless Children

Thousands of stateless, migrant and refugee children are without elementary education. Citizenship is still the basic requirement for enrolment into the national school system. Pray for an end to the generational cycle of illiteracy and poverty. Pray for more concerted efforts by all parties be it government, NGOs, churches and other organizations to provide education to these groups of children.

  • Pray for Teachers

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

  • We need more men and women of integrity and a love for children to become teachers.
  • Pray that more Christians will take up teaching as the profession of choice. Pray for teachers who are lovers of Jesus.
  • Pray for a radical spirit that would dare to challenge ungodly rules in the educational system – that the teachers would bring in a righteous revolution for the sake of our children.
  • Pray for the Ministry of Education and leaders to have the courage and political willpower to change and improve the national education system.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7

Polarization and inequality in national schools due to centralization policy have caused concern in quality of national education.

  • Racial segregation in schools is getting wider; so is access to quality education between the rich and the poor. With racial segregation, students are not able to see each other as a valuable contribution to a multiracial Malaysia.
  • The Malaysian education system has always been well-funded, yet improvements in student outcomes have not always matched the resources channeled into the system.
  • Pray for wisdom to use funds efficiently to maximize student outcome for every ringgit.
  • Pray for increased transparency and direct public accountability to minimize wastage in resources and abuse.

 

MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Minister:  DATUK SERI DR. NORAINI AHMAD

Deputy Minister : DATO’ DR. AHMAD MASRIZAL MUHAMMAD

  • Give thanks to God for access to higher education in Malaysia has increased substantially. Malaysia now ranks third among ASEAN countries in Master and PhD enrolments, behind Singapore and Thailand. The Ministry of Higher Education aspires to increase access to and enrolment in higher education by 2025 from 48% to 70%. Pray for all parties involved to be committed towards achieving this goal.

 

  • Structural and institutional reforms in higher education system need to be looked into. Appointment of administrators, university board members and faculty appointments in universities are unclear and ambiguous with little consultation. Many who are appointed lack an understanding of what their academic positions entail and lack leadership. Pray for change in the system where universities will be governed independently, inclusively and professionally, with good governance in a transparent and accountable environment.

 

  • Graduate Employability has been a challenge for a while. Many university graduates are unemployed and even unemployable. Students are taking loans to finance higher education, and more and more students getting into debt by the time they graduate. Pray that government will be prudent in using resources for higher education to produce quality graduates with a mind to contribute to the betterment of nation and society.

 

  • The Malaysia Education Blueprint for Higher Education 2015-2025 was developed to transform our higher education system and higher learning institutions to prepare Malaysian youths to thrive in the future. It is a comprehensive and holistic plan. Pray for commitment to implement the plans in this blueprint.

“When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”  Psalm 11:3

 

Father, we pray that our colleges and universities will become centers for revival rather than for the tearing down of the faith. We ask You to work through the many Christian groups on the campuses and through the churches to bring thousands of young men and women to faith and discipleship. We pray that the Holy Spirit will use Christian professors and faculty members as a mighty force for good and that a new standard might be raised up. We pray that Christian students will stand strong for their faith and grow in profound ways. And we pray that You will equip churches and homes across the land to give their young people the training for a biblical worldview that will cause them to thrive in their faith throughout their entire university experience.

In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.