Why are stakeholders left in the dark about education policies?

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Stakeholders Remain Uninformed Due to Ministry's Lack of Engagement and Transparency

Stakeholders, including educators, students, and parents, are reportedly left in the dark regarding the Ministry of Education's plans for the new norm in education due to a perceived lack of response and engagement from the ministry. Despite repeated queries from lawmakers, educators, students, and parents, there has been no clear presentation of the ministry's masterplan to address concerns about safety and access to education amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This situation arises within a broader context where government ministries typically engage with the public and various stakeholder groups to communicate policy direction and gather input.
Lack of Communication on New Norm Plans

Former education minister Maszlee Malik has expressed significant disappointment over the Ministry of Education's failure to respond to queries from various stakeholders. He stated that he, like other parents and taxpayers, remains clueless about the ministry's strategies for navigating the "new norm" in education. This lack of communication leaves those directly affected by educational policies without crucial information needed to address the challenges posed by the pandemic, such as ensuring student safety and maintaining access to learning.
Limited Stakeholder Involvement

Maszlee Malik highlighted that effective engagement with all stakeholders is paramount for addressing the nation's learning problems. He lamented that this collaborative and holistic approach, where the ministry plays a major role in bringing everyone on board, has not occurred. The absence of such engagement means that proposals and ideas from educators, experts, and non-governmental organisations are not being adequately discussed with the ministry, which possesses the comprehensive data on the ground situation.
Insufficient Decentralisation of Decision-Making

A contributing factor to the confusion may be the ministry's approach to decision-making. Maszlee Malik suggested empowering local schools and state/district education offices to make independent decisions, particularly concerning school closures. He argued that blanket decisions are not suitable, as not all districts face the same Covid-19 risks or have similar logistical challenges. Granting more authority to local education offices and schools could lead to more contextually relevant policies, but the current centralised approach appears to be contributing to the information gap.

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Why are stakeholders left in the dark about education policies?

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