Fadhlina: Character education is more than teaching youths to be ‘good’

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek believes character education should empower young people to express their opinions, think critically, and maintain respect when confronted with opposing viewpoints, according to a Facebook post. At the National Madani Youth Forum, Fadhlina observed the young participants honing their ability to articulate their thoughts, present their positions, consider alternative perspectives, and defend their arguments.

"This is the character education we want to cultivate," she stated. "It is not merely about teaching children to be good. We aim for them to speak confidently, think critically, and remain respectful when opinions diverge."

Fadhlina emphasized that character education must align with initiatives to promote the Malay language, including providing more opportunities for young people to utilize it. She explained that the Malay language would flourish when the upcoming generation perceives it as a language capable of effectively conveying their thoughts.

"Our responsibility is not to dictate what they should say, but to ensure they possess the knowledge to articulate their arguments and the courtesy to listen," Fadhlina explained. "A mature nation is not one where everyone agrees. It is one built by a generation that knows how to disagree," she concluded.