PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

 

e-ISSN 2231-8542
ISSN 1511-3701

Home / Regular Issue / JTAS Vol. 32 (2) Jun. 2024 / JSSH-8893-2023

 

Issues and Challenges of Primary Education Toward Implementing Technical and Vocational Education Training to Meet the Fourth Industrial Revolution Demand: A Systematic Literature Review

Latifah Mohd Ali, Mohd Fauzi Kamarudin, Shajahan Maidin and Shafinaz Ismail

Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, Volume 32, Issue 2, June 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.32.2.07

Keywords: Fourth Industrial Revolution, issues and challenges, primary education, systematic literature review, technical vocational education and training

Published on: 28 June 2024

The present wave of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technology and trends is drastically affecting nearly every economic sector and preparing for profound changes in people’s lives. The benefits of the technology include higher safety, better decision-making, increased productivity, efficiency, and quality in processes, as well as increased competitiveness. Thus, every effort towards raising awareness of the 4IR should begin early in primary education. This study critically evaluated the literature on the issues and challenges of implementing Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) preliminary courses in primary education in Malaysia towards raising awareness of the future 4IR. Using two databases, namely Scopus and Web of Science, the review was conducted in accordance with the ROSES (Reporting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses) publishing standard. The findings showed that the role of primary education in facilitating skills development for socio-economic and technological development for the students was significant. Based on the thematic analysis, two primary themes emerged: a lack of 21st-century skills and support, supplemented by six sub-themes. In addition, the issues and challenges of other countries’ primary education in meeting the 4IR demand are also discussed. The paper offered solutions for the issues that arose to fulfil the objective of TVET preparatory courses: to increase pupil awareness of the present 4IR in elementary education in Malaysia.

  • Abdullah, A. H., Mun, S. H., Mokhtar, M., Ashari, Z. M., Jumaat, N. F., Ali, D. F., Samah, N. A., & Abdurrahman, M. S. (2020). Using active learning with smart board to enhance primary school students’ higher order thinking skills in data handling. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(10), 4421-4432. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2020.081009

  • Adams, A., Feng, Y., Liu, J. C., Stauffer, E. (2021). Potentials of teaching, learning, and design with virtual reality: An interdisciplinary thematic analysis. In B. Hokanson, M. Exter, A. Grincewicz, M. Schmidt, & A. A. Tawfik (Eds.), Intersections across disciplines (pp. 173-186). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53875-0_14

  • Ahmad, A., Sirajuddin, P. T. S., & Mohamed, A. H. (2017). The effectiveness of training: Equipping and enhancing ICT knowledge and skills among polytechnic lecturers in producing quality highly skilled graduates. Advanced Journal of Technical and Vocational Education, 1(3), 1-5.

  • Alalwan, N., Cheng, L., Al-Samarraie, H., Yousef, R., Alzahrani, A. I., & Sarsam, S. M. (2020). Challenges and prospects of virtual reality and augmented reality utilization among primary school teachers: A developing country perspective. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 66, Article 100876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2020.100876

  • Ayanwale, M. A., Ndlovu, M., & Oladele, J. I. (2022). Mathematics education and the fourth industrial revolution: Are the high school mathematics teachers ready? In Mathematics Education in Africa: The Fourth Industrial Revolution (pp. 77-96). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2020.100876

  • Azhar, A., & Azman, A. (2021). Corporate social responsibility in educational programme among Malaysian primary schools: Perspectives from corporate companies in Malaysia. Studies of Applied Economics, 39(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.25115/eea.v39i1.4281

  • Bakar, A. Y. A., & Mahmud, M. I. (2020). Profiling of aspiration and interest towards STEM and TVET careers among lower secondary students: A Malaysian case study. Journal for the Education of Gifted Young Scientists, 8(1), 489-500. https://doi.org/10.17478/jegys.669034

  • Bakirci, H., & Karisan, D. (2018). Investigating the preservice primary school, Mathematics and Science Teachers’ STEM awareness. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 6(1), 32-42. https://doi.org/10.11114/jets.v6i1.2807

  • Bush, T., Hamid, S. A., Ng, A., & Kaparou, M. (2018). School leadership theories and the Malaysia education blueprint: Findings from a systematic literature review. International Journal of Educational Management, 32(7), 1245-1265. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-06-2017-0158

  • Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. (2013). Executive Summary: Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 (Preschool to Post-Secondary Education). (2013). Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. https://www.pmo.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Malaysia-Education-Blueprint-2013-2025.pdf

  • Fadzil, H. M., & Saat, R. M. (2014). Enhancing STEM education during school transition: Bridging the gap in science manipulative skills. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 10(3), 209-218. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2014.1071a

  • Haddaway, N. R., Macura, B., Whaley, P., & Pullin, A. S. (2018). ROSES RepOrting standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses: pro forma, flow-diagram and descriptive summary of the plan and conduct of environmental systematic reviews and systematic maps. Environmental Evidence, 7, Article 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-018-0121-7

  • Hassan, M. N., Mustapha, R., Yusuff, N. A. N., & Mansor, R. (2017). Development of higher order thinking skills module in science primary school: Needs analysis. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(2), 624-628.

  • Hendrik, B. (2020). Robotic technology for figural creativity enhancement: Case study on elementary school. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2020.0110166

  • Hendrik, B., Ali, M. N., & Nayan, N. M. (2020). Validity of figural creativity model development based on robotic learning concept. Intenational Journal of Advance and Applied Science, 7(11), 102-109. https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2020.11.011

  • Husin, N. S., Abd Hamid, R., Abd Aziz, N., Saoula, O., & Azizi, S. (2017). The effect of emotional intelligence on job performance among educators in Malaysia. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering, 8(3), 7860-7863. https://doi.org/10.35940/ijrte.C6549.098319

  • Hussain, M. A. M., Zulkifli, R. M., Kamis, A., Threeton, M. D., & Omar, K. (2021). Industrial engagement in the technical and vocational training (TVET) system. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 20(12), 19-34. https://doi.org/10.26803/IJLTER.20.12.2

  • Hwang, S., Waller, R., Hawes, D. J., & Allen, J. L. (2021). The influence of antisocial behavior and callous-unemotional traits on trajectories of school engagement and achievement in South-Korean children. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 50, 788-802. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01414-2

  • Ilori, M. O., & Ajagunna, I. (2020). Re-imagining the future of education in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 12(1), 3-12. https://doi.org/10.26803/IJLTER.20.12.2

  • Indriani, F., Hidayah, N., AlQisan, & Okfitri, N. N. (2021). Innovative learning era industrial revolution 4.0 in optimizing 21st century competence elementary school students. In Proceedings of the Second Asia Pacific International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (pp. 3147-3157). IEOM Society International. https://ieomsociety.org/proceedings/2021indonesia/570.pdf

  • Ismail, I., Azizan, S. N., & Azman, N. (2013). Mobile phone as pedagogical tools: Are teachers ready? International Education Studies, 6(3), 36-47. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v6n3p36

  • Jalil, R. A., Tasir, Z., & Salleh, S. M. (2017). RMATHs: Mobile based numeracy learning applications for students with learning disabilities. Advanced Science Letters, 23(6), 5551-5555. https://doi.org/10.1166/asl.2017.7419

  • Jeong, S. J. (2021). A semantic network analysis of research trends on media education of elementary school students. Frontier Computing: Proceedings of FC 2020, 395-404. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0115-6_41

  • Julius, E., Mun, S. H., Abdullah, A. H., Mokhtar, M., & Suhairom, N. (2018). Using digital smart board to overcome higher order thinking skills learning difficulties in data handling among primary school students. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 12(7), 43-59. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v12i7.9644

  • Kamarulzaman, W. B., & Hashim, R. (2013). Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia (PPPM) 2013-2025: Unity Among Students [Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025: Unity Among Students]. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2302609

  • Kasinathan, V., Mustapha, A., Hasibuan, M. A., & Abidin, A. Z. Z. (2018). First discovery: Augmented reality for learning solar systems. International Journal of Integrated Engineering, 10(6), 149-154. https://doi.org/10.30880/ijie.2018.10.06.021

  • Kho, L. S., & Chen, C. J. (2017). Effects of different student response modes on science learning. Interactive Learning Environments, 25(8), 996-1008. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2016.1242080

  • Kim, C. M., Ahn, J., Noh, D. W., Moon, J. S., & Kim, S. B. (2022). A study on core competencies for elementary and secondary education in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. Journal of Digital Contents Society, 23(11), 2159-2170. https://doi.org/10.9728/dcs.2022.23.11.2159

  • Lee, K. H., Koh, E., Hong, C., Lee, Y., Moon, E., & Cho, J. (2018). New curriculum of software education for 5-years-old children. Journal of Advanced Research in Dynamical and Control Systems, 10(14), 374-381.

  • Malaysia Qualification Agency. (2017). Malaysia Qualification Framework (MQF; 2nd ed.). https://www.mqa.gov.my/new/document/mqf/2021/MQF%20Ed%202%2002102019%20updated%2017022021.pdf

  • Masril, M., Ambiyar, A., Jalinus, N., Ridwan, R., & Hendrik, B. (2021). Robotic education in 21st century: Teacher acceptance of Lego Mindstorms as powerful educational tools. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 12(2), 119-126. https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2021.0120216

  • Mee, R. W. M., Pek, L. S., Von, W. Y., Ghani, K. A., Shahdan, T. S. T., Ismail, M. R., & Rao, Y. S. (2021). A conceptual model of analogue gamification to enhance learners’ motivation and attitude. International Journal of Language Education, 5(2), 40-50. https://doi.org/10.26858/ijole.v5i2.18229

  • Menon, K., & Castrillón, G. (2019). Reimagining curricula for the fourth industrial revolution. The Independent Journal of Teaching and Learning, 14(2), 6-19.

  • Minghat, A. D., & Yasin, R. M. (2010). Sustainable framework for technical and vocational education in Malaysia. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 9, 1233-1237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.12.312

  • Misni, F., Mahmood, N., & Jamil, R. (2020). The effect of curriculum design on the employability competency of Malaysian graduates. Management Science Letters, 10(4), 909-914. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2019.10.005

  • Mogas, J., Palau, R., Fuentes, M., & Cebrián, G. (2022). Smart schools on the way: How school principals from Catalonia approach the future of education within the fourth industrial revolution. Learning Environments Research, 25(3), 875-893. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-021-09398-3

  • Mohamad, M. M., Sulaiman, N. L., Lai, C. S., & Salleh, K. M. (2013). The composite of students’ characteristic and cognitive dimension in vocational education. Global Journal of Business and Social Science Review, 1(2), 28-39.

  • Mukhtar, M. I., & Ahmad, J. (2015). Assessment for learning: Practice in TVET. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 204, 119-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.08.124

  • Mustam, A. A., & Adnan, M. (2019). Perception of primary mathematics teachers on STEM-oriented teaching and learning. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1227, Article 012009. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1227/1/012009

  • Muzakkir, Hussin, Z., & Razak, R. A. (2022). Teachers’ beliefs towards character education curriculum in primary school: A systematic literature review. Education 3-13, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2022.2142478

  • Na, J. (2021). Elementary school teachers’ conception of the learning content of elementary science education subject required in the 4th industrial revolution era. Journal of Science Education, 45(1), 90-104. https://doi.org/10.21796/JSE.2021.45.1.90

  • Oke, A., & Fernandes, F. A. P. (2020). Innovations in teaching and learning: Exploring the perceptions of the education sector on the 4th industrial revolution (4IR). Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 6(2), Article 31. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc6020031

  • Okoli, C. (2015). A guide to conducting a standalone systematic literature review. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 37(1), 879-910. https://doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.03743

  • Omar, M. K., Zahar, F. N., & Rashid, A. M. (2020). Knowledge, skills, and attitudes as predictors in determining teachers’ competency in Malaysian TVET institutions. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(3), 95-104. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2020.081612

  • Porter, L. (2022). Application of teaching, research and teaching objectives and national education policy in improving the quality of primary education. Journal of Research in Vocational Education, 4(4), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.53469/jrve.2022.04(04).01

  • Prabu, S. N., & Nesamalar, M. K. (2021). Students’ perception towards teaching and learning of design and technology subject in English. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 6(8), 422-435. https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v6i8.970

  • Rahman, N. A., Rosli, R., Rambely, A. S., & Halim, L. (2021). Mathematics teachers’ practices of STEM education: A systematic literature review. European Journal of Educational Research, 10(3), 1541-1559. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.10.3.1541

  • Rahman, N. H. A. (2014). From curriculum reform to classroom practice: An evaluation of the English primary curriculum in Malaysia [Doctoral dissertation, University of York]. White Rose eTheses Online. https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/7511/

  • Rahman, R., Sakti, A. W., Widya, R. N., & Yugafiati, R. (2019). Elementary education literacy in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0. In Proceedings of the Second Conference on Language, Literature, Education, and Culture (ICOLLITE 2018; pp. 190-193). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/icollite-18.2019.41

  • Ramdzan, Z., Hamzah, M. I., & Zulkifli, H. (2022). (2022). 21st-century learning in Islamic education. Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results, 13(Special Issue), 4221-4231. https://doi.org/10.47750/pnr.2022.13.S07.529

  • Razak, N., Ab Jalil, H., & Ismail, I. (2019). Challenges in ICT integration among Malaysian public primary education teachers: The roles of leaders and stakeholders. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 14(24), 184-205. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v14i24.12101

  • Reed, H. C., Drijvers, P., & Kirschner, P. A. (2010). Effects of attitudes and behaviours on learning mathematics with computer tools. Computers & Education, 55(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2009.11.012

  • Rusmin, L., Hasan, S., La Rabani, M. M., & Suardika, I. K. (2020). The role of civic education in the student moral development in elementary school: A descriptive study. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(12), 6405-6414. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2020.081206

  • Saif, A. S., Mahayuddin, Z. R., & Shapi’i, A. (2021). Augmented reality based adaptive and collaborative learning methods for improved primary education towards fourth industrial revolution (IR 4.0). International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 12(6), 614-623. https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2021.0120672

  • Savita, K. S., Muniandy, M., Nur’Ain, Z., & Mehat, M. (2017). A mobile based environmental education for primary schoolchildren in Malaysia. In 2017 International Conference on Research and Innovation in Information Systems (ICRIIS; pp. 1-6). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICRIIS.2017.8002452

  • Setyaningsih, E. (2020). Adapting elementary school curriculum innovation in line by 4IR and cultures. In Proceedings of the 2nd Educational Sciences International Conference (ESIC 2019; pp. 81-91). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200417.019

  • Shaffril, H. A. M., Ahmad, N., Samsuddin, S. F., Samah, A. A., & Hamdan, M. E. (2020). Systematic literature review on adaptation towards climate change impacts among indigenous people in the Asia Pacific regions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 258, Article 120595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120595

  • Shahali, E. H. M., Ismail, I., & Halim, L. (2017). STEM education in Malaysia: Policy, trajectories and initiatives. Asian Research Policy, 8(2), 122-133.

  • Shipepe, A., Uwu-Khaeb, L., De Villiers, C., Jormanainen, I., & Sutinen, E. (2022). Co-learning computational and design thinking using educational robotics: A case of primary school learners in Namibia. Sensors, 22(21), Article 8169. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22218169

  • Siew, N. M., Chong, C. L., & Chin, K. O. (2014). Developing a scientific creativity test for fifth graders. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 62, 109-123. https://doi.org/10.33225/pec/14.62.109

  • Singh, P., Hoon, T. S., Nasir, A. M., Ramly, A. M., Rasid, S. M., & Meng, C. C. (2021). Card game as a pedagogical tool for numeracy skills development. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 10(2), 693-705. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v10i2.20722

  • Singh, P., Hoon, T. S., Nasir, N. A. M., Han, C. T., Rasid, N. S. M., & Bzh, J. (2020). An analysis of students’ mathematical reasoning and mental computation proficiencies. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(11), 5628-5636. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2020.081167

  • Subramaniam, M., Loganathan, N., & Noordin, M. K. (2020). TVET education for students in Malaysia: A systematic literature review. Journal of Social Transformation and Education, 1(1), 63-74.

  • Tahir, L. M., Jamal, A. H. M. A., Yusof, S. M., Ali, M. F., Hassan, Z., & Hamid, M. Z. A. (2018). “I employed my own strategy”: Exploring primary headteachers’ organisational and professional socialisations. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 15(1), 229-265.

  • Thornhill-Miller, B., Camarda, A., Mercier, M., Burkhardt, J.-M., Morisseau, T., Bourgeois-Bougrine, S., Vinchon, F., El Hayek, S., Augereau-Landais, M., Mourey, F., Feybesse, C., Sundquist, D., & Lubart, T. (2023). Creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration: Assessment, certification, and promotion of 21st century skills for the future of work and education. Journal of Intelligence, 11(3), Article 54. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11030054

  • Veloo, A., & Ali, R. M. (2016). Teachers’ challenges in the implementation of school based assessment in physical education. In B. Mohamad (Ed.), Challenge of ensuring research rigor in soft sciences (Vol. 14 - European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences; pp. 737-743). Future Academy. https://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2016.08.104

  • Wasriep, M. F., & Lajium, D. (2019). 21st century learning in primary Science subject via flipped classroom method–A teacher’s perspective. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering, 8(2), 952-959. https://doi.org/10.35940/ijrte.B1088.0982S919

  • Wong, S. Y., Liang, J. C., & Tsai, C. C. (2021). Uncovering Malaysian secondary school students’ academic hardiness in science, conceptions of learning science, and science learning self-efficacy: A structural equation modelling analysis. Research in Science Education, 51, 537-564. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-019-09908-7

  • Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2019). Guidance on conducting a systematic literature review. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 39(1), 93-112. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X17723971