KUALA LUMPUR – MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has urged the Education Ministry to maintain the existing 12 weekly periods allocated for Tamil language lessons in Tamil primary schools, opposing a proposed reduction to 10 periods under the 2027 curriculum restructuring.
Saravanan, who is also Tapah MP, said he had written to Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek to express his objection to the proposed changes, with a copy of the letter also sent to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the proposed reduction had raised concerns among teachers, parents, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and the wider Indian community.
“I firmly object reducing Tamil language teaching time from 12 periods to 10 periods per week under the 2027 curriculum restructure plan,” he said in a statement today.
Saravanan stressed that Tamil schools played an important role in preserving the language, cultural identity and heritage of the Tamil community in Malaysia.
He said Tamil language education goes beyond basic communication, as it also helped shape students’ intellectual development, emotional growth, values and cultural understanding during their formative years.
“Existing mother tongue teaching hours must not be compromised or sacrificed to make space for new subjects or syllabus modules,” he added.
While expressing support for the Education Ministry’s proposed Character Building module, Saravanan suggested that it be incorporated into existing Moral Education periods instead of reducing Tamil language teaching time.
He said the approach would allow the ministry to introduce character-building lessons without affecting the existing allocation for Tamil language education.
Saravanan urged the ministry to review its curriculum restructuring plan and maintain or increase the current 12-period allocation for Tamil language lessons in Tamil primary schools.
He also called on the ministry to ensure that mother tongue learning time remained protected under the new curriculum.
The proposed reduction in mother tongue teaching hours under the Education Ministry’s 2027 curriculum restructuring has also drawn criticism from MCA, following concerns over Mandarin lessons in Chinese national-type primary schools (SJKCs).
MCA vice-president Datuk Tan Teik Cheng criticised Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh, accusing him of failing to safeguard the interests of Chinese schools despite the curriculum changes having been in preparation for more than a year.
According to reports, the new curriculum will reduce the minimum weekly Mandarin teaching periods for Year One and Two pupils in SJKCs from 12 to 10.
Wong had explained that the adjustment was part of the ministry’s effort to reorganise minimum weekly teaching periods across different school streams, with mother tongue language lessons allocated at least 10 periods weekly.
The restructuring will also introduce a Character Building module lasting 15 minutes daily, or 75 minutes a week, delivered in the respective schools’ medium of instruction. – November 5, 2026