Is Music education facing the chop? Concerns over standalone subject status

KUALA LUMPUR – In a classroom often dominated by complex formulas, high-stakes exams and rigid deadlines, music has long served as a vital counterbalance - a sanctuary where students learn to listen, feel and create.

From harmonising in choirs to mastering the recorder, music lessons offer a unique space for emotional expression and imagination that few other subjects can provide.

However, this creative haven may soon face a significant shift.

The Education Minitstry is reportedly planning to remove Music as a standalone subject from 2027, opting instead to integrate it into other areas of the curriculum.

While officials argue the move is intended to modernise learning, educators warn that it could weaken a discipline essential for developing students beyond mere test scores.

Former National Education Advisory Council member and University of Cyberjaya adjunct professor Datuk Satinah Syed Saleh believes the proposal contradicts the National Education Plan 2025–2035. This plan specifically emphasises holistic development and student well-being.

“If we are serious about the goals of the Education Plan 2025–2035, music should continue to be treated as a core developmental subject.

“Education reform must strengthen, not dilute, the place of music in our national curriculum, ensuring Malaysian children grow not only academically capable but also emotionally resilient and creative,” she told Sinar Daily.

Satinah stressed that music education is not a luxury reserved for elite arts schools. In national schools, it plays a daily role in balancing a system that remains heavily examination-oriented.

She warned that integrating music without proper structure, time allocation, or trained teachers risks reducing meaningful opportunities for creative learning.

Beyond the theoretical debate, those on the front lines see the tangible benefits of music every day.

Music tutor, Janaki Narayanan expressed deep concern over the reported decision. She argued that when music is no longer treated as a "real" subject, it sends a message to children that creativity is optional.

“Teachers are already overloaded with academic targets. If music is only ‘integrated’, it will slowly disappear from classrooms,” Janaki warned.

She famously described music as an emotional ‘paracetamol’, helping children process feelings they cannot put into words.

Transferable skills and academic support

The benefits of music extend far beyond the arts, as educators highlight several key areas where the subject directly supports broader academic success.

In terms of mathematics, music theory fundamentally involves the study of patterns, rhythms and fractions, which reinforces numerical understanding.

Regular engagement with music has been shown to improve behaviour by enhancing focus, listening skills, and overall classroom discipline.

Beyond individual development, participating in choirs and bands nurtures teamwork and leadership, while helping students build the confidence needed to overcome stage fright.

Finally, music promotes inclusivity by providing a vital morale boost for students who may struggle with traditional academic assessments, effectively preventing them from disengaging from the school environment entirely.

As Malaysia prepares for reform under the 2025–2035 plan, the consensus among educators is that integration should not come at the cost of identity.

Music is not merely content to be absorbed; it is a learning space with its own rhythm and purpose.

The looming question is whether students will still be afforded the time and professional guidance to experience it meaningfully in a system increasingly focused on measurable outcomes.