COMMENT | Having identified some guiding principles for a New Programme (working title) to replace the National Civics Bureau (Biro Tatanegara, BTN) and National Service (NS), let us look today at some of the practicalities of implementing such a programme.

I believe there are two main approaches.

The first, I have written about previously, and involves a rather different approach than the previous models.

This model involves incorporating a compulsory class and time period in all existing schools in Malaysia, regardless of stream.

This class, held once every one or two weeks, would provide the time and space to deliver all the material and experiences imagined in Part 1 of this article.

The advantage to this approach is that it provides the most amount of time with students, and integrates the material into day-to-day learning within each school.

Disadvantages may include the long time required to work out all the logistics necessary for the integration of this class and its teachers into all existing school systems.

More importantly perhaps, solely using this approach offers little if any possibilities for students to interact with other young Malaysians from outside their school ...