Developnment of School Counselling in Malaysia
Developnment of School Counselling in Malaysia
Introduction
Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia. It consists of a federation of 13 states and 3 federal territories. The 3 federal territories are Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya and the 13 states are Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu. Malaysia is a multicultural society. Based on estimation of U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s (quoted by See Ching Mey & Ng Kok Mun, 2010), there were 50.4% Malays, who are Muslims by birth; 23.7% Chinese, who are mainly Buddhists and Taoists, with some Christians; 11% indigenous peoples, who are mainly animists; 7.1% Indians, who are mainly Hindus; and 7.8% others. Therefore, the tasks of a counselor in Malaysia are more challenging if compared with other countries. It is because counselors need to understand a bit about background and culture of different places and races. Anyway, counseling in Malaysia is like many other countries which have its roots in education. In this paper, I will explain the development of school counseling in Malaysia.
1930s
John Arul Phillip & Sharifah Muzlia Syed Mustafa (2012) give more clearly evident that the guidance services were introduced by the British in Malaya in 1939 with the publication of the booklet titled Panduan Kerjaya di Tanah Melayu bagi Ibu Bapa, Guru-guru dan Murid-murid. This means that the guidance and counseling already had been introduced in Malaya (most of the states at West Malaysia) before merged with the other states to form Malaysia in 1963. When at World War II, many schools in Malaysia had been closed up because of invaded by Japan at whole Malaysia in 1942. Therefore, this made the limited development of school counseling in Malaysia until year 1945 when Japan surrendered to America. In 1955, many recommendations had been stated in Federation of Malaya Annual Report on Education (1955). One of recommendations was to
Introduction
Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia. It consists of a federation of 13 states and 3 federal territories. The 3 federal territories are Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya and the 13 states are Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu. Malaysia is a multicultural society. Based on estimation of U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s (quoted by See Ching Mey & Ng Kok Mun, 2010), there were 50.4% Malays, who are Muslims by birth; 23.7% Chinese, who are mainly Buddhists and Taoists, with some Christians; 11% indigenous peoples, who are mainly animists; 7.1% Indians, who are mainly Hindus; and 7.8% others. Therefore, the tasks of a counselor in Malaysia are more challenging if compared with other countries. It is because counselors need to understand a bit about background and culture of different places and races. Anyway, counseling in Malaysia is like many other countries which have its roots in education. In this paper, I will explain the development of school counseling in Malaysia.
1930s
John Arul Phillip & Sharifah Muzlia Syed Mustafa (2012) give more clearly evident that the guidance services were introduced by the British in Malaya in 1939 with the publication of the booklet titled Panduan Kerjaya di Tanah Melayu bagi Ibu Bapa, Guru-guru dan Murid-murid. This means that the guidance and counseling already had been introduced in Malaya (most of the states at West Malaysia) before merged with the other states to form Malaysia in 1963. When at World War II, many schools in Malaysia had been closed up because of invaded by Japan at whole Malaysia in 1942. Therefore, this made the limited development of school counseling in Malaysia until year 1945 when Japan surrendered to America. In 1955, many recommendations had been stated in Federation of Malaya Annual Report on Education (1955). One of recommendations was to
References: John Arul Phillips & Sharifah Muzlia Syed Mustafa (2012). Guidance and Counseling. Open University Malaysia. Meteor Doc. Sdn. Bhd. Mihajlo Tome Glamcevski II (2008). The Malaysian Counseling Profession, History and Brief Discussion of the Future. Paper presented on 10 July 2008. Monash University, Melbourne Australia. Retrieved from http://www.cphjournal.com/archive_journals/Mile_Glameuski.pdf, 31 January 2013. See Ching Mey (2004). School Counseling and Guidance in the Asia-Pacific Region; Current Issues and Prospects. Educational Research Institute, Seoul National University. Retrieved from http://eprints.usm.my/9612/1/School_Counseling_and_Guidance_in_the_Asia-Pacific_Region_Current_Issues_and_Prospects_%28PPIPendidikan%29.pdf, 31 January 2013. See Ching Mey & Ng Kok Mun (2010). Counseling in Malaysia: History, Current Status, and Future Trends. Journal of Counseling & Development, Vol:88, Pg:18-22. American Counseling Association. Retrieved from http://www.ircep.org/doc/MalaysiaACAJCD_88_01_Win10article05.pdf, 31 January 2013. Quek Ai Hwa. Career Guidance and Counseling in Malaysia: Development and Trends. Education Faculty, University of Malaya. Retrieved from www.spc.org.sg/9thARACD/CAREER%20GUIDANCE%20AND%20COUNSELLING%20IN%20MALAYSIA.doc, 31 January 2013.