Tag: Fadhlina Sidek

Support And Protection, Not Stigma, For Pregnant Teenagers – Fadhlina

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 -- Teenage girls involved in out-of-wedlock pregnancies will continue to receive support to ensure they return to school and sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said. She said these students must be given every opportunity to continue their education and avoid dropping out of the school system. “They should return to their studies after completing their confinement period. I am very firm on this matter. There can be no shortcuts in life because education is the key to breaking the cycle of violence and rebuilding one’s future. “The Ministry of Education (MOE) will usually assist these students in returning to school and ensure they are able to sit for the SPM without disruption to their education,” she said in a Facebook post. The minister stressed that teenage pregnancy should be addressed through a support-, protection- and education-based approach to safeguard the welfare of both mother and child. Fadhlina said that once a pregnancy is discovered, the teenager should be taken to the nearest health clinic or rural health centre to register for maternal healthcare and open a pregnancy health record or the “pink book”. “The priority must be the pregnancy and the health of the young girl. The younger the teenager, the greater the risks to both her pregnancy and her health. The government healthcare system is fully equipped and has the expertise to manage these cases,” she said. She also advised parents to lodge a police report and arrange counselling support immediately so that the teenager can share the full circumstances of the case, enabling appropriate follow-up action. With her post, the minister also shared a media report on a young mother who pleaded guilty to causing the death of her baby in Johor yesterday. She said the case was particularly distressing to her as a former activist involved in establishing Bayt Al-Rahmah, a shelter for girls facing out-of-wedlock pregnancies. Addressing the challenges faced by parents, including feelings of shame and anger, Fadhlina said institutions such as Bayt Al-Rahmah play an important role in providing a safe environment and protection for expectant mothers until childbirth. “The government also provides similar support services through the Social Welfare Department (JKM), which offers shelter and protection under government-run institutions,” she said. Fadhlina further highlighted that the post-partum period is a critical phase that may lead to depression or other mental health complications if adequate care is not provided. Comprehensive support, including healthcare, breastfeeding assistance and continuous counselling, she said, is essential to ensure young mothers do not face overwhelming stress. “There are many young girls out there who are frightened and worried about their pregnancies. What is far more important is that we adopt preventive and supportive approaches when seeking solutions to this social issue. “We can save the lives of both mothers and children by acting early, trusting the system rather than social stigma, and building strong support networks within our communities,” she added. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — Teenage girls involved in out-of-wedlock pregnancies will continue to receive support to ensure they return to school and sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said. She said these students must be given every opportunity to continue their education and avoid dropping out of the […]

Budget 2027: Savings measures will not affect MOE’s main plans – Fadhlina

KUALA LUMPUR: The government's austerity measures in drafting the 2027 Budget will not affect the Ministry of Education's (MOE) main plans, especially in the scope of recruiting new teachers and building additional classrooms, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. He also assured that the austerity measures would not disrupt beneficiaries of the Supplementary Food Plan (RMT) program, which is considered important for students' nutritional intake. Apart from that, Fadhlina said repairs to dilapidated schools and building maintenance would continue as usual. "We do not want the people to feel worried and upset because although the call for austerity is a very important and critical call at this time, I would like to assure you that it will not interfere or interfere in a context closely related to priorities at the ministerial level," he said. He said this to reporters after opening the International Symposium on Libraries, Translation and Artificial Intelligence (LiTr.AI) 2026 at Wisma Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), here today. Fadhlina said the Ministry of Education would also ensure that any austerity measures would not affect the launch of the new curriculum next year, as well as the entry of six-year-old children into year one. Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hinted that the 2027 Budget would be drafted with more austerity measures following global economic pressures that affected the country's fiscal position, including involving the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said global geopolitical uncertainties, including the chain of tensions following the attack by the United States and its ally Israel on Iran, were having an impact on the global economy, thus demanding more prudent government spending. Meanwhile, regarding the provision of RM100 book vouchers for secondary school students under the Ministry of Education and students of public higher education institutions (IPTA), which was announced by the Prime Minister when opening the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2026 last Friday, Fadhlina said it would begin to be distributed as soon as school sessions reopened. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s austerity measures in drafting the 2027 Budget will not affect the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) main plans, especially in the scope of recruiting new teachers and building additional classrooms, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. He also assured that the austerity measures would not disrupt beneficiaries of the Supplementary Food Plan (RMT) […]

Malaysian Leaders Urge SPM 2025 Candidates to Embrace Results and Plan Future Wisely

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, has called on the 413,299 candidates of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2025 examination to accept their results with an open heart, describing them as just the beginning of a longer journey toward building their future. In a message shared on his official Facebook page, Ahmad Zahid emphasized that examination outcomes should be viewed as a starting point rather than a final destination. He encouraged students to remain resilient and forward-looking regardless of their results. He also reminded candidates to express gratitude to those who supported them throughout their academic journey, including parents, guardians, family members, and teachers. “Success achieved today is the result of their prayers and sacrifices,” he said. Ahmad Zahid further advised students to carefully consider their next steps and explore opportunities in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), highlighting it as a viable pathway for building a successful career. “Keep moving forward. Choose your path wisely. God willing, TVET will always provide opportunities to shape your future,” he added. Meanwhile, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek also congratulated all SPM 2025 candidates in a video shared on social media. She described their achievements as a gateway to broader opportunities and a brighter future. “Stay motivated and continue striving to pursue knowledge at higher levels and achieve your dreams,” she said. Fadhlina also expressed her appreciation to teachers across the country for their dedication, patience, and commitment in educating students from primary through secondary levels. A total of 413,299 candidates nationwide received their SPM 2025 results, which were officially released today.

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, has called on the 413,299 candidates of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2025 examination to accept their results with an open heart, describing them as just the beginning of a longer journey toward building their future. In a message shared on his official Facebook page, […]

MOE Monitoring Students To Prevent Extremist Infiltration In Schools

BUKIT MERTAJAM — The Ministry of Education (MOE) is closely monitoring student involvement in militant and terrorist activities to prevent extremist ideologies from infiltrating educational institutions. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the ministry has left the matter to the relevant authorities for further investigation and necessary action. “At the MOE level, we are monitoring student […]