The Ministry of Education (MOE) is responsible for the entire education system. At the top of the organizational structure is the Minister who is assisted by the Deputy Minister. Together, they are responsible for decision-making on all important policy
matters. The curricula and syllabuses are developed centrally with input from key stakeholders nationally. School wide assessments are conducted by the schools whereas national examinations are organized by the Board of Examination.
According to the 2008 structure, the Ministry has two permanent Secretaries, one responsible core education (assisted by the Director General of Education) and the other for higher education (assisted by a Deputy Permanent Secretary). The higher education section includes the secretariats of the National Education Council, the National Accreditation Council, and the Technical and Vocational Education Council. Departments include: planning, development and research; planning and estate management; technical education; in addition, there are the Head of the higher education section and the scholarship section. Under the higher education section there is also the SEAMEO-VOCTECH (Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training). The Regional was established in 1990 by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), a chartered international organization whose purpose is to promote cooperation in education, science and culture in the Southeast Asian region.
Under the Department of Technical Education, the Continuing Education section coordinates adult learning provision (academic classes, skills courses, enrichment programmes); it also provides assistance to various community programmes. There are 41 learning centres which are mainly located in selected primary and secondary schools, in addition to the Continuing Education building. (MOE-DTE, 2008).
Another Deputy Permanent Secretary is responsible for the corporate services section, which includes the following Departments: ICTs; human resources development; administration and services. There are also three units (international affairs, legal affairs, and public relations).
The core education section includes five departments, the special education unit, and the private institutions section. The departments are: Department of Schools; Department of Schools Inspectorate; Department of Curriculum Development; Department of Examinations; and Department of Co-Curriculum Education. In addition, under the core education section there is also the Science, Technology and Environment Partnership Centre. (MOE, 2008).
The establishment of the Curriculum Development Department (CDD)
began with the formation of the Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) in March
1978. The administration of the CDC came under the Head of the Planning, Research and Guidance Unit. Initially the focus of curriculum work was directed at four main subjects, namely Malay language, English, science and mathematics. In 1981, the CDC was renamed the Curriculum and Textbooks Unit (CTU), under the Planning and Development Section. The role of the CTU was expanded in 1982 to include seven additional components, namely textbooks, educational resources, geography, history, art and crafts, home science, and preschool. In early 1984, with the addition of civics/moral education, physical education and music, there were altogether fourteen components managed by the CTU. From August 1984, the Head of CTU was promoted to the position of Assistant Director (Curriculum), while the CTU was
renamed the Curriculum Development Section (CDS) and its administration was separated from the Planning and Development Section.
CDD activities include the production of curricular programmes in accordance with the education policies laid down by the MOE. More specifically, CDD functions are to: study, plan and prepare school curriculum programmes in accordance with the national education policies; prepare and publish curriculum materials such as syllabuses, teachers’ guides, textbooks, workbooks and teaching aids either in print or electronic medium; trial and evaluate various plans and curriculum materials in the classrooms; evaluate and improve curricular programmes and other materials so as to determine their suitability and to monitor the quality of materials produced; orientate the teachers in the use of curriculum programmes and materials; disseminate information relating to new practices and innovations in curriculum development; review, evaluate and recommend basic textbooks, supplementary and reference books as well as other teaching and learning materials for use in schools; undertake coverage of educational programmes and documentation for use by schools and the MOE; plan and prepare for implementation of e-learning and lifelong learning.
According to Section 115 of the Education Order of December 2003, the Schools Inspectorate under MOE shall: (a) be responsible, in co