Resignation Calls Motivate Me To Do Better For Students, Says Fadhlina

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said that calls for her resignation serve as a ‘reminder’ and motivation to do better for the sake of students and the overall education ecosystem.

She said such demands, following a series of major incidents in schools recently, reflected a clear message that the ministry must continue to strengthen its policies and address issues affecting teachers and students more effectively.

“The calls (for resignation) should be seen as a signal that you must do better. When I visit schools, of course, my focus is always on the children first.

“The Education director-general often reminds me that when the Education Minister visits, look for the students first because that’s what is foremost in our minds,” she said during a session with senior media editors here today.

Fadhlina, who is also Nibong Tebal MP, said that such challenges, including calls for her to step down, are part of political reality.

“When we choose to be in politics, there’s nothing we won’t face. So I say, let’s just face it. It’s not that I haven’t been doing my work. I’m not being defensive (about it), and of course, there are weaknesses, but our focus remains on improvement and doing our best,” she said.

Fadhlina said she received advice from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to remain patient in the face of such challenges.

“I think the only advice the Prime Minister gave me was to be patient. He said things were even tougher during his time as Education Minister and shared a few examples of the challenges he faced then.

“He said the best thing he could say at the time was, ‘we will do better.’ So I’m saying now, we will do better... much, much better,” she said.

Fadhlina said the Education Ministry (MoE) will implement immediate reforms to the education system and mechanisms, while strengthening ongoing programmes through cross-ministerial efforts involving the Health Ministry, Home Ministry, Communications Ministry and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

She said the effort will also involve the broader community, including Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBG), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the Parent, Community and Private Sector Involvement (PIBKS) initiative, to address safety challenges in schools.

“This will be an intensive and continuous effort, with all State Education Departments and District Education Offices instructed to implement practical and efficient measures across all 10,243 schools nationwide.

“The Minister, Deputy Minister and MoE senior management will continue to engage with educators and students to gather feedback on the implementation of these initiatives,” she said.

-- BERNAMA