Netizens recall fond memories of ‘Kajian Tempatan’ after the Education Ministry announced plans to revive ‘Alam dan Manusia’
DO you remember learning Kajian Tempatan (Local Studies)?
During the era of the Integrated Primary School Curriculum (KBSR), this subject was well known for its engaging approach, combining elements of history and geography.
As students would only study these subjects formally in secondary school, Kajian Tempatan played a vital role in helping young learners understand the story and essence of their homeland.
Netizens have been reminiscing about the subject after the Education Ministry announced plans to introduce a new subject, ‘Alam dan Manusia’, starting in 2027.
According to the ministry, the new subject — first introduced in 1994 before being replaced by Science and Kajian Tempatan — will integrate a variety of disciplines, including science, health education, music, visual arts, TVET, and digital technology.
On Threads, user Razif expressed hope that the new subject would also include elements of Kajian Tempatan.
Echoing similar sentiments, Rashidah Saleh said the subject had been both fun and educational, and removing it from the syllabus may have contributed to the current generation’s lack of local knowledge.
“If you show them a state flag and ask which state it belongs to, their answers are all over the place — clearly, they’ve never learned. Some don’t even know that the traditional attire worn by Indian women is called a sari. Terrible, isn’t it?” she wrote.
Another user, Harold Wei Ann Ong, shared that as a student in a Chinese vernacular school, he studied the subject in Mandarin and it was his favourite.
“Once, during a test on the topic of the Malacca Sultanate, I scored 100%. I was over the moon!” he recalled.
Similarly, Shafiq Omar said Kajian Tempatan helped nurture his passion for geography and history.
“By Year 4, I could already draw a basic map of Malaysia complete with the states’ locations. It was thanks to Local Studies that I developed an interest in geography and history during secondary school,” he said.
As the ministry prepares to reintroduce Alam dan Manusia, many Malaysians are looking back fondly on Kajian Tempatan — a subject that not only taught facts but also instilled a deeper appreciation for the nation’s identity and heritage.
