Geography Information System: Rethink needed

Friday, 27 March 2009 00:15

Source: New Straits Times

A UNIVERSITI Putra Malaysia (UPM) researcher laments the lack of a spatial thinking culture in Malaysia.

"This is related to the fact that we did away with Geography as a compulsory subject at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level," says Associate Professor Dr Abdul Rashid Mohamed Shariff from UPM's Engineering Faculty.

Geography was a compulsory subject in the 1970s at the Malaysian Certificate of Education level.
As a result, many students are not aware of the location of countries.

"Some Malaysians do not know where Iran is and this is such a pity when we talk about globalisation. If we cannot appreciate where countries are located, how will we instil confidence into our students to go abroad and be globalised players?"
Abdul Rashid gave an overview of the Geography Information System (GIS) technology and its applications at a recent seminar at UPM in Serdang,

A basic knowledge of Geography is essential to understanding the practical use of GIS.
"I would like to suggest the government rethink its strategy for Geography at the upper secondary level for Fourth and Fifth formers. It is currently optional," says Abdul Rashid.

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