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Education Minister Announces Increased Teaching Hours for PEERS Module in 2027 School Curriculum
Brace yourselves, folks! Malaysia's tossing a curveball in the education system with the upcoming 2027 School Curriculum. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has recently revealed plans to amp up the teaching hours for the Reproductive and Social Health Education (PEERS) module.
Why the change, you ask? Well, it seems the stats don't lie. A recent increase in HIV infections among university and school students, mainly related to sexual activity, has pushed the Education Ministry to take action.
The PEERS module, part of the Health Education curriculum, is scheduled to provide pre-schoolers, primary, and secondary school students with the much-needed knowledge to navigate their daily lives, focusing on psychosocial competencies.
Fadhlina has highlighted that this initiative is part of the ongoing advocacy efforts under the Generasi Madani programme and various school-rolled awareness programmes. "Starting in 2027, under the new curriculum, we will increase the teaching hours for PEERS," she confirmed after officiating the 56th MOE-MSSM-MILO Sports Awards 2024.
In a head-on response to the high Mathematics failure rate in the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, Fadhlina also announced that intervention measures would be implemented for subjects that show a decline in performance.
With the new PEERS updates, Malaysia is stepping up to combat the rising HIV cases among students. While exact outcomes remain to be seen, the curriculum's objective is undoubtedly to target the risk factors mentioned in recent HIV case reports.
The update aligns with Malaysia’s 2020-2025 National Reproductive Health and Social Education Plan of Action. UNFPA supports this initiative through technical partnerships and comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) advocacy. Moreover, UNFPA’s collaboration with Malaysia’s National Population and Family Development Board (NPFDB) and the Education Ministry aims to boost inter-ministerial monitoring and youth-focused SRHR (sexual and reproductive health rights) initiatives.
However, there are a few hurdles on the horizon. With a 2027 implementation date, there's a two-year gap before the rollout, which may allow current HIV trends to persist. Additionally, the PEERS program may need to incorporate more explicit technology-integrated CSE platforms and expanded access to contraception education to meet the UNFPA's evaluation expectations.
Keep an eye on these developments; Malaysia's commitment to evidence-based sexual health education is more evident than ever, and assessing its effectiveness in reducing youth HIV rates post-2027 is crucial. Stay tuned!
- Starting from 2027, the new school curriculum in Malaysia will see an increase in teaching hours for the Reproductive and Social Health Education (PEERS) module, as announced by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
- The decision to amp up the PEERS module comes in response to the recent surge in HIV infections among university and school students, primarily linked to sexual activity.
- The PEERS module, which is part of the Health Education curriculum, will now focus on providing pupils with essential knowledge to manage their lives, with an emphasis on psychosocial competencies.
- Fadhlina's announcement was made at the 56th MOE-MSSM-MILO Sports Awards 2024, where she also mentioned intervention measures for subjects showing a decline in performance, such as Mathematics, in the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
- The updates in the PEERS curriculum aim to address the risk factors mentioned in recent HIV case reports and align with Malaysia’s 2020-2025 National Reproductive Health and Social Education Plan of Action.
- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supports this initiative and is working on technical partnerships and comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) advocacy, aiming to enhance inter-ministerial monitoring and youth-focused SRHR (sexual and reproductive health rights) initiatives.
