A model of 'insan sejahtera'

Falsafah Pendidikan Kebangsaan (FPK) highlights the concept of kesejahteraan diri, or "own wellbeing", rather than just sekolahku sejahtera.

This leads to the goal of nurturing insan sejahtera, rather than modal insan. Indeed, the entire episode laid out by Fadli is predicated on the former, rather than the latter.

His boldness in articulating his concern reflects very well the notion of kesejahteraan diri.

His confidence, calmness and sincerity in addressing the issues also give a boost to the meaning of kesejahteraan diri.

This holds true especially as he was threatened by the powers that be and faced possible expulsion from service or a demotion due to an alleged violation of a code of conduct.

All this because he said what he felt — representing many others — on certain issues, justifiably so, like all ethically conscious teachers should.

One issue that he commented on was the "heavy school bag".

This is only the tip of the iceberg, with direct implications on the curriculum and teaching, as well as the education system.

The FPK emphasises the need to be berterusan (ongoing), menyeluruh (holistic) and bersepadu (integrated) to arrive at kesejahteraan diri.

Is the ecosystem aligned with this fundamental framework of learning?

It is not a matter of whose syllabus or curriculum, as the caretaker senior minister seemed to imply, but rather it is about the "what" and "how".

Fadli managed to shake up the system to its core, without fear or favour.

This is the hallmark of an insan sejahtera, who is resolved to dispense sejahtera because he or she has experienced kesejahteraan diri, as highlighted in the FPK.

This is unlike those who have yet to achieve kesejahteraan diri — they tend to be more abrasive, threatening and even destructive, which is a far cry from the goals of education.

What happened to Fadli, right before the people's eyes, came as a shock.

But it also turned him into the much-awaited hero that the country has been looking for to speak out, loud and clear, on the shortcomings in the education ecosystem — although that was not his intention.

All said and done, the Fadli exposé shows how the education system should be changed in line with the balanced and harmonious context of the FPK, to create a new generation of insan sejahtera.

Kudos to Fadli for showing what an enlightened educator can do to transform education and the future generation.

The writer, an NST columnist for more than 20 years, is International Islamic University Malaysia rector

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times