2027 school curriculum to introduce six new subjects, says Education Ministry

PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry will introduce six new subjects in the 2027 school curriculum, aimed at strengthening basic skills and character development at the early stages of schooling.

They include, Alam dan Manusia: Pembelajaran Bersepadu, at Level 1 (Years 1 and 2); Eksplorasi Sains dan Teknologi: Pembelajaran Bersepadu at Level 2 (Years 3 and 4); Eksplorasi Seni dan Dunia:Pembelajaran Bersepadu at Level 2, (Years 3 and 4); Teknologi dan Digital (TnD), Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia (BIM); and Bahasa Arab Komunikasi.

According to the ministry’s curriculum development division director Nooraini Kamaruddin, these subjects are designed to foster inclusivity, hands-on learning, and practical application, preparing students for cognitive, emotional, and social development.

“Alam dan Manusia: Pembelajaran Bersepadu actually combines elements of science, arts, music, health, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and digital.

“Students learn through activities that combine content and skills from various disciplines into meaningful learning experiences,” she said during an engagement session regarding the 2027 school curriculum and 2026 preschool curriculum on Wednesday (Nov 26).

She also said that BIM will be offered as an additional subject in mainstream schools and will be introduced gradually, starting from Year 1, in schools with integrated special education programs for students with hearing impairments.

“Meanwhile, Bahasa Arab Komunikasi will be introduced as a new, additional language subject at the secondary level (starting Form 1) in daily schools and residential schools, excluding religious residential schools,” she said.

Separately, she said that while the 2027 school curriculum emphasises character education and skill mastery, major national assessments like the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) will continue.

“We are not bringing back Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) or Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3), the system remains, but we are strengthening school-based assessments.”

“Now we use three performance levels: Know, Understand, and Do,” she said, adding that these three levels apply from preschool to lower primary (Years 1 and 2).

“From Year 3 to Year 6 in primary school, as well as Form 1 to Form 5 in secondary school, we use four performance levels: Know, Understand, Do, and Apply.

“With this system, teachers can track students’ progress more effectively while ensuring they achieve literacy, numeracy, and the broader competencies intended in the curriculum,” she said.