Mummy Shares: Local Primary 1 Syllabus Today Vs My Experience

Do you mummies ever find yourself scratching your head while helping your kids with their homework or thinking about their subject syllabus? It's been nearly 30 years since my Primary 1 class (Oh my, I feel so old!), but I don't recall it being as difficult as what my children are facing today. I came across an article the other day in which a parent compares the Primary 1 school work in Malaysia and the United States. The one in the United States looks exactly like what my children learn in kindergarten here. Or perhaps even simpler! Sometimes, it gets me thinking. What are we aiming for with the rigorous curriculum for our primary school students? Though I don't remember much of what I learned in my primary years, I can tell when I'm helping my kids with their homework that what they're learning is difficult. I mean, yes, despite the difficult curriculum, some children do exceptionally well in school. However, in my opinion, we are rushing our children through childhood. And they are missing out on what kids their age should be doing. Since my daughter was in Primary 1, and now my son, I’ve been complaining about their subjects to my husband and parents. Anyhow, it’ll be interesting to learn what other mothers think about the syllabus for their primary-aged kids. So, I'll start by sharing my thoughts. I'm comparing the four main subjects my kids are learning today with what I learned when I was in Primary 1. Let’s Start with Mathematics Why do I have the impression that all I remember from Primary 1 is learning numbers and doing some additions and subtraction for this subject? It’s probably more than that, but I wasn’t the brightest student in my class. Ha, just kidding! ~ But in all seriousness. Some of the material covered in my kid's Primary 1 textbooks today is way beyond what children their age should be learning. Let alone comprehend for in-class exams or quizzes. Here's what I mean: Ordering of Numbers in Ascending and Descending Order (Susunan Nombor Tertib Menaik Dan Menurun) Primary 1 Mathematics Textbook Simple number ordering is acceptable. However, this becomes overly difficult for the children when they are asked to write numbers in specific scales, such as fives or sevens. It's like expecting Primary 1 students to already know and memorise timetables. Rounding of Numbers (Pembundaran Nombor) Primary 1 Mathematics Textbook Some may believe that this is not a difficult task for children. But I'm still not convinced that teaching this topic to Primary 1 students is worthwhile. It simply adds more weight to the syllabus than it already does. The amount of material these seven-year-old students are learning seems advanced for their age. Written Math Problems Primary 1 Mathematics Textbook Yes, Primary 1 students are now expected to be literate. But you can't deny that some of them are still learning. Some even start learning to read when they enter primary school. So, in my opinion, Maths should be enjoyable for children to learn numbers. Making them solve and correct written Maths problems that we as adults sometimes have to read more than once to understand is preposterous. Despite this, there is one topic that I found interesting that I don't recall learning: Abacus. I found out that it is important for children to learn about it from a young age. According to Master Mind Abacus, the abacus has numerous benefits, including improved memory and recall, the ability to visualise to perfection, improved focus and concentration, and the development of logical thinking. Next, Let’s See the English Syllabus When I first looked over my kids' English textbook, I assumed that Primary 1 students would need to know at least basic English to understand what was going on in the book. That is fantastic for children who are fortunate enough to be exposed to the language. But, in my opinion, those who don't and are just starting to learn English will struggle. For them to remain interested in their lessons, they will require extra care and direction from their teachers. If I'm not mistaken, I learned very basic English in school when I was in Primary 1 around 30 years ago. This includes knowing how to read. However, some of the questions asked today are quite complex, as illustrated below. Primary 1 English Textbook Primary 1 English Textbook The good news is that Primary 1 students now have listening practise. Which, in my opinion, is extremely beneficial for children learning proper pronunciation, intonation, and enunciation. It also teaches children to understand what the English audios are saying by having them answer related questions. Is Bahasa Malaysia Harder Now? It is not only about the vocabulary introduced and used in the subject, but also about the activities provided. To be honest, I don't always understand what's being asked. I even have to search online for the answers at times! **A big thank you to all the teachers who took the time and initiative to record themselves discussing and responding to each activity from the Bahasa Malaysia textbook. Without you, I wouldn't know how to assist my children. >< Honestly, I don't remember much about the Primary 1 curriculum back then. I mainly recall it wasn't as difficult as it is now. I also asked several friends my age who have children in primary school, and they all agreed that learning Bahasa Malaysia is becoming heavier. I've included two examples from my child's textbook below. Primary 1 Bahasa Malaysia Textbook Primary 1 Bahasa Malaysia Textbook What About Science Syllabus? I can’t compare this because there was no Science subject back in my time. However, I began learning the subject when I was in Primary 4. And I remember it was part of my UPSR. In some ways, it's wonderful that children as young as seven years old are introduced to Science. It is an enthralling subject to learn about. It's just that some of the topics can be difficult for children of that age to grasp. Even the first page of my children's science textbook surprised me. Then there's the Kemahiran Berfikir Aras Tinggi (KBAT) question, which left me shrugging my shoulders. Primary 1 Science Textbook Primary 1 Science Textbook It's like the educational system is eager for these children to exercise their brains and begin thinking critically as soon as possible. I understand that the introduction of KBAT to the primary school syllabus has made all of the curriculum more difficult. On the other hand, I constantly think that learning about things like Mathematics and Science should be more enjoyable. More games and other activities should be included to help kids learn. After all, they're still kids, and it's in their nature to want to play and have fun. No Matter the Syllabus, Support Your Kids’ Learning Image credit: Canva In the end, the syllabus is determined by the responsible party, even though we have a voice in what our children learn. No matter how we feel about it, our kids will have to put up with what is required of them. As parents, it is our responsibility to give our children the resources they need to learn. This includes providing a comfortable environment for learning, providing any additional material, and being present every step of the way. The world is a challenging place to be in today. So, on a positive note, the challenging syllabus is there to prepare them for that. However, we still need to give them the room they need to play, have fun, and act like young children. Do you miss your primary school days, mummies? Do you recall mostly studying or playing and having fun? I think the best would be to meet in the middle; what say you? For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

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