Education Ministry seeks Unesco recognition for 'Gendang 24 Perayaan'

IPOH: The Education Ministry plans to seek Unesco recognition for Gendang 24 Perayaan, a traditional Malaysian art form. Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh emphasized this as a key aspiration to preserve, develop, and introduce the art to younger generations. At the National Primary Schools Gendang 24 Finals Competition closing ceremony, Wong highlighted the ministry's discussions with communities to strengthen efforts to develop Gendang 24 Perayaan.

One such initiative is the Train the Trainers programme, designed to equip school educators to integrate and enhance the art form in other schools. In 1988, Gendang 24 Perayaan was founded by cultural figures Tan Hooi Song and Tan Chai Puan, and was officially recognized as an Intangible National Heritage in 2009. Since then, the art form has flourished, with hundreds of schools across Malaysia participating, becoming an integral part of the country's cultural heritage.