PRAYER FOR CRITICAL EVENT – REBUILDING THE NATION DURING THE ENDEMIC

(Note: This is divided into 2 parts: A. National Economic Recovery, and B. National Education Recovery. If you have time constraint, please choose only 1 part to pray.)

Jeremiah 29:7, 11-13

7 “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (NIV)

A. NATIONAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Introduction

Due to the large decline in global trade and investment flows, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit open economies such as Malaysia particularly hard. Malaysia’s economic recovery is highly dependent on the global environment – with exports and foreign direct investments (FDI) directly generating domestic economic growth.

Yet global growth is projected to fall, with global FDI flows to developing Asia to plunge by up to 45%. This grim outlook is likely to intensify intra-ASEAN competition for scarce FDI. However, in the wake of the COVID-driven collapse in manufacturing, many multinational companies (MNCs) are attempting to diversify their supply chains, relocating away from China.

The ASEAN region seems to be a major beneficiary of these relocations, providing an opportunity for member nations to capture these much-needed investments. As such, Malaysia should consider nurturing industries with the potential to attract MNCs and FDI – creating a good network of supplier-firms to increase opportunities to create a new impetus for economic growth and stimulate long term recovery.

Pray that Malaysia will:

Pursue policies to attract multinational corporations (MNCs) through developing a strong domestic industrial network, rather than through direct investment incentives.
Identify and nurture industries with the potential to attract foreign direct investments by creating a good network of supplier-firms and using this opportunity to create further economic growth.
Identify opportunities within the manufacturing industry which will best facilitate the creation of a regional manufacturing hub, so that Malaysia will be an attractive destination as a regional manufacturing hub base.
Adopt fiscal policies to benefit the population by job creation, technology transfer and creating opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to revitalise the economy; thus, promoting a more inclusive and long-term recovery.
Support SMEs in transitioning out of low-productivity, labour-intensive manufacturing to better serve MNCs in the high value-added industries to strengthen the domestic recovery by attracting FDI as well as ensuring more extensive spill-over benefits to smaller firms.
Create the right economic environment such as the availability of skilled labour, nation-wide digital connectivity, sound infrastructure and pro-competition policies to support foreign firms to encourage foreign investors.

Adapted from Covid-19 Recovery Strategy: Malaysia as a Regional Manufacturing Hub

B. NATIONAL EDUCATION RECOVERY

Introduction

In April 2021, the Asian Development Bank reported that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, most children in Malaysia have had a major loss in education progress. Malaysia has had one of the highest learning losses among Asian developing nations.

Malaysia’s learning loss:

Exceeds losses of all ASEAN members, except Myanmar;
On par with losses of Bangladesh and Nepal; and
Among Asian developing nations with the highest loss.

Education poverty will have enormous lifetime implications, not just for children, but also for the Malaysian economy. Unless swift and bold action is taken, it will worsen. In addition, the concurrent mental health pandemic in children, exacerbated by prolonged school closure, is significantly impacting learning, the quality of our future workforce, and our productivity.

There is an urgent need for an emergency national education recovery plan to rehabilitate students with learning loss – post-pandemic. The following are the key significant implications that we could expect, if we do not act boldly, quickly and comprehensively:

With more than 40% of our children significantly affected by learning loss in the past two years, we could face this scenario for many years to come:

(a) Higher rate of early education drop-out;

(b) Less skilled labour force;

(d) Economic downturn; and

(e) Increased social problems and worsening social instability.

If we do not now inject lifesaving investments into the pre-school sector (including children with learning disabilities), the on-going education crisis will continue to be perpetuated for a number of years, as many children will not be prepared educationally for Primary 1. Twenty-five percent (1,210) of all kindergartens and pre-school child services have closed as of 31 March 2022.
The current mental health pandemic in children (as a result of school loss, home confinement and loss of peer social interaction) will have a major impact on long-term health needs in the country. We can expect higher rates of suicide and mental health pathology that will strain the health services. This will result in a less than robust workforce.

Pray that the following key initiatives will be taken by our government:

Undertake rapid assessment of all students to understand each child’s situation and status.
Identify vulnerable children and schools that require more support, including financial aid to enable those from poor families to return to school.
Provide additional temporary teachers/teaching support, especially in Standards 1 and 2 and the transition years, to aid children who have not been prepared for school or are struggling to continue.
Allocate significant financial support to restore the pre-school sector (kindergartens and early childhood intervention/learning disability services for children) to prevent prolonging the crisis.
Identify and reach out to school drop-outs to enable their return to schooling or vocational skills training and employment.
Be aware of and address the mental health needs of students by identifying children affected and offer support using mental health professionals and associations.
Leave no child behind by giving more individual attention to help at-risk children.
Continue to use some digital means of learning to reinforce education.
Give teachers the support required to meet these unique challenges.
Assure parents of classroom Covid-19 safety.
Parents to support the initiatives of the schools to recover the loss period of education.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) could enlist help from parents, civil society organizations (CSOs) and other agencies to support local initiatives.

Adapted from “A National Emergency – Our Children’s Learning Loss: A Path to Post-COVID-19 School Recovery in Malaysia”