No point in continuing if no changes made in ministry, says teacher

 

Fadli Salleh says teachers and even ministry officials support him.

PETALING JAYA: A teacher who had repeatedly raised concerns over the primary school mathematics syllabus being too advanced for pupils feels “there is no point” in continuing his career unless there are wholesale changes in the education ministry.

Speaking during  a Facebook Live broadcast last night, mathematics teacher Fadli Salleh claimed his sentiment was shared by teachers and education officials at the district and state level, who want the ministry to be open to criticism and accept change.

A disciplinary committee chaired by the ministry’s secretary-general, Yusran Shah Yusof, is to meet today to discuss Fadli’s criticism of the primary school mathematics syllabus.

“There is no use if the disciplinary board meets tomorrow (Monday) and says no action will be taken against me, that nothing happened and I am innocent,” Fadli said.

“(There is no use) if people keep voicing out their concerns but nothing changes. There is no use for me to save my career if there are no changes.”

He also dismissed claims that he wanted to be a “hero” or given an advisory role in the ministry.

“I don’t want that,” he said.

“There needs to be changes in the ministry’s leadership. From the ministry’s secretary-general to the director-general, the department directors and so on.”

During the 90-minute broadcast, Fadli also suggested that education be separated from politics.

“Don’t set people (politicians) up in certain positions. Make sure they are qualified and have the teachers’ spirit,” he said.

The SK (1) Gombak teacher made headlines after revealing that he had received a letter from the ministry’s disciplinary board stating that he faces possible dismissal or demotion after he repeatedly raised concerns over the primary school mathematics syllabus being too advanced for the pupils.

This came after he said the syllabus was of too high a standard and inappropriate.

He said there were also too many pupils in a class and they had too many subjects to study.

Fadli also highlighted the issue of children having to carry heavy school bags as this was harmful to them.

The controversy has caught the attention of caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who said he hoped for “a positive decision” at today’s meeting.

Stating that show cause letters were common in government departments, Ismail hoped that Fadli would not be fired or demoted.

“The ministry cannot let its staff who make comments (on social media) go scot-free. But, at the same time, too harsh a punishment for officers and staff is also inappropriate.

“Officers and staff also need to respect the ministry,” he told reporters after a Deepavali event in his Bera parliamentary constituency.

Fadli said the ministry was coming under increasing criticism from netizens who were already dissatisfied with the issue of national education, adding that Malaysians “look down” on the ministry because of this.

“It (education ministry) is looked down upon by Malaysian teachers themselves,” he said.

“The majority of teachers support me, but they cannot speak out. Even many officials in Putrajaya, the ministry, state education departments and district education offices support me.

“But they are bound by the rules of the civil service.” - FMT