Heritage awareness strategy on the UNESCO-Listed Kedah Heritage Assets among school students in Kedah, Malaysia

Located on the western coast of Malaysia’s northern peninsula, Kedah is recognized as the cradle of human civilization in Southeast Asia, particularly exemplified by the Sungai Batu civilization in Bujang Valley, Merbok. The area served as the iron smelting centre of the Ancient Kedah Kingdom since 788 B.C. Kedah, the oldest state in Malaysia, possesses a profound history, with the Langkawi Archipelago and Mount Jerai region originating approximately 500 million years ago. The countless heritage assets warrant protection as part of a conservation initiative for the benefit of the nation’s history and future generations. A deficiency in heritage awareness among the community may lead to the complete loss of heritage evidence, hindering local identity and pride, as well as economic prospects in the tourism sector. This study aims to establish a comprehensive ‘awareness strategy framework’ about UNESCO-listed Kedah heritage assets (KHAs) for school students in Kedah. Three objectives have been delineated: 1) to uncover the principles underlying the provision of a heritage-awareness strategy for globally recognized heritage assets, 2) to evaluate the level of heritage awareness among school students regarding KHAs, and 3) to propose a robust framework for a heritage awareness strategy targeting school students in relation to KHAs. A mixed-method analysis employed with a triangulated data collecting approach. The study activities encompass a literature review, interview session, personal communication, self-observation and inventory of KHAs, fieldwork statistical survey, and post-fieldwork focus group discussion. A state-wide survey conducted with 676 school students to assess their awareness on KHAs and associated issues. The statistics indicated concerning findings, signifying a lack of awareness on KHAs among the respondents. The findings additionally provide multiple recommendations for the suitable strategies and action plans to improve heritage awareness. The implementation should commence with the formation of a specialized management entity authorized by the state’s statutory legislation, tasked with fostering heritage awareness through its public education system.