THE Ministry of Education (MoE) will carefully evaluate a set of 10 resolutions submitted by the Melaka state government, including proposals to withdraw education assistance and introduce caning for students involved in misconduct such as bullying, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said on Sunday.
Fadhlina said each resolution would be assessed in terms of its effectiveness and its implications for existing education policies before any decision is taken.
“We will examine all the resolutions and consider whether they have a positive impact on the overall policies and frameworks that we are currently implementing,” she told reporters after attending the handover ceremony of a new school at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Seberang Perai Tengah.
She stressed that the ministry values input from state governments and stakeholders who are concerned about strengthening students’ character, discipline and moral development.
“I would like to record my appreciation to the Melaka state government and all parties who have put forward various views to the Ministry of Education for us to improve across all aspects,” she said.
At the same time, Fadhlina announced the introduction of a new initiative known as the Comprehensive Kindergarten Access Programme, or PAKAT, aimed particularly at the preschool level.
“It involves close collaboration between parents, the community, Parent-Teacher Associations and Parent-Community School Associations,” she said.
“PAKAT provides space for parents and the community to be fully involved in the school ecosystem, especially at the preschool level, to jointly address education issues and the character development of children,” she added.
Fadhlina said the initiative is among the ministry’s key agendas to ensure community input is fully harnessed in strengthening the national education system.
“God willing, we will PAKAT together to continue driving the national education agenda and ensure the full involvement of parents in schools,” she said.
The Melaka state government had earlier tabled 10 key resolutions on student discipline, character and welfare, including the proposal to implement caning in a measured manner with parental or guardian consent as a disciplinary and educational measure.
Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the proposals were among the key outcomes of a two-day special convention involving the state government, parent-teacher associations, community representatives and education partners.
He said other resolutions included making Quran and Fardu Ain classes compulsory for all primary school pupils in Melaka, as well as appointing heads of departments, elected representatives and community leaders as adoptive “school fathers” to help monitor student discipline.
Separately, Fadhlina described the Education Ministry’s new approach to school infrastructure development, implemented in collaboration with the Public Works Department, as a “game changer” in addressing overcrowded schools and classrooms nationwide.
She said the projects, which began in May 2025, had been completed within a matter of months.
“At the level of the ministry and the Public Works Department, we started in May 2025 and most of the projects have already been completed 100 per cent.
“This is among the important reforms in the development and infrastructure aspect of the national education system,” she said.
“Praise be to God, this is one of the important approaches and reforms currently taking place at the ministry. It is a form of construction that has an immediate impact and, in my view, is a ‘game changer’ in terms of infrastructure,” she added.
According to Fadhlina, 20 schools using the Industrialised Building System concept have been completed to ease congestion, as part of a broader plan involving 127 construction projects nationwide, with 70 of them located in Selangor, the state facing the most severe overcrowding.
“The short construction period proves that this approach is effective and practical to be implemented on a wider scale,” she said.
“It only takes a few months to complete, and this shows that this approach is among the most effective so far in overcoming the problem of overcrowded schools and classrooms,” she added.
Fadhlina said the ministry plans to roll out the same approach on a much larger scale next year and ensure the new classrooms are fully utilised when the new school session begins.
“God willing, next year we will implement it on a larger scale and ensure these classrooms are fully used in conjunction with the opening of new schools,” she said. - December 14, 2025
