National Philosophy of Education (NPE)
states that:
"Education in Malaysia is an on-going effort towards further developing the potential of individuals in a holistic and integrated manner, so as to produce individuals who are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced and harmonious, based on a firm belief in and devotion to God. Such an effort is designed to produce Malaysian citizens who are knowledgeable and competent, who possess high moral standards, and who are responsible and capable of achieving high level of personal well-being as well as being able to contribute to the harmony and betterment of the family, the society and the nation at large"
The National Philosophy of Education (NPE) formulated in the year 1987 is the most important document in Malaysia that guides and reinforces the direction and goal of education in the country. Its formulation is also seen as an attempt to bring the separate, ad hoc and implicit aims into a clear statement of national educational policy (Ahmad, 1991; Mohd. Said, 1991). In fact there is a relationship between the philosophy of education which was unwritten and previously based on national documents such as the New Economic Policy, the Five-Year Malaysian Plans and the National Ideology. At present, the philosophy of education based on these documents, ‘has now been written and has become the national philosophy of education’ (Langgulung, 1993, p.25). With the new written national philosophy of education religious and moral values are taken seriously and given emphasis in the Malaysian educational system with the belief in and devotion to God and also encompassing other aspects of the individual holistic growth namely: competence, responsibility and possession of high moral standards.
