Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has reiterated that the current education system which allows for national and national-type schools would not be changed without detailed studies.

Any change in the present system in the near future is unlikely as it will affect a lot of students, he told reporters after attending the 41st MCA Youth annual general assembly in Kuala Lumpur today.

The minister also stressed that thorough studies would be required before any change could be formulated.

He was asked to comment on a parliamentary written reply from Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Thursday that the government will review the current education system in a move to tackle polarisation problem among students.

A review of the education system, according to Hishammuddin, is a "medium and long term plan" that will be carried out by the ruling coalition through discussion under the Ninth Malaysia Plan starting from next year.

"We in the BN will fine-tune the programmes that we are going to implement," he said.

Calling on all to put aside sensitivities and emotions when discussing the issue, Hishamuddin pointed out that "there is a place for all streams in our schools."

"But the weaknesses of these schools have to be corrected in order to face the challenges of globalisation," he added.

Bangsa Malaysia by 2020

The minister said that these changes could be carried out by the "right political leaders" within the BN component parties.

In replying to Dr Tan Kee Kwong (BN-Segambut) in Parliament, the prime minister said that apart from reviewing the current education system, the government will strengthen the controversial vision school project.

However, Abdullah also said that polarisation in schools is still "under control" but various measures have been undertaken by the government to achieve a united Bangsa Malaysia status by year 2020.

The current education system divides the primary school system into national school and national-type school formed by Chinese and Tamil schools whereas the vision school was introduced a few years ago which put the three different streams of schools under one roof.

Vernacular education groups fear that the vision school system was the first step in the eventual dismantling of different education streams.