AUGUST 13 — Every August, schools across Malaysia turn into miniature celebrations of patriotism. Jalur Gemilangs decorate corridors, students rehearse patriotic songs and assemblies echo with speeches about unity. Yet an uncomfortable question remains: What happens to Merdeka after the celebration ends?

If patriotism is taught only through annual rituals, we risk producing students who can recite Rukun Negara but struggle to practise its values in everyday life. Merdeka should therefore move from the calendar into the curriculum, and from the curriculum into children’s character. Schools can make this shift by transforming Merdeka activities into authentic experiences.

Instead of merely organising patriotic performances, students could investigate local stories of independence, interview grandparents about how Malaysia has changed, document community histories, or design solutions to contemporary issues such as racism, environmental responsibility and digital misinformation.

History, Bahasa Melayu, Moral Education, Arts and even Science can become spaces for students to explore what being Malaysian means today.

More importantly, schools should create “Merdeka in Action” challenges throughout the year.

Students might practise inclusion by welcoming classmates from different backgrounds, demonstrate civic responsibility through community projects, or resolve disagreements using principles of respect and justice. Teachers can then invite students to reflect on how these actions represent the values of independence. 

The real measure of a successful Merdeka celebration is not how many flags we display, songs we sing or programmes we organise. It is whether, months later, a child chooses kindness over prejudice, responsibility over indifference and unity over division. Let us teach children to live with Merdeka for life.

* The authors are Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Noor Abdul Aziz and Prof Dr Nurahimah Mohd Yusoff from the School of Education, Universiti Utara Malaysia.

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.