Rais and Zaleha greeting participants on arrival for the dialogue with 200 participants of the International Islamic University, Malaysia (IIUM) Foundation Centre. — Bernama photo
PETALING JAYA: The government needs to give more attention to character building in the country’s education system to produce future generations with high noble values, said Socio-Cultural Advisor to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim.
He said the ministry involved needed to review the content of education transformation which was being implemented now.
“Education in the country should be able to produce a community which is sharp in its thoughts and strong in social aspects.
“The heavy content of school syllabi is not an excuse for the education system not to focus on character building,” he said.
He told this to reporters after attending a dialogue with 200 participants of the International Islamic University, Malaysia (IIUM) Foundation Centre here yesterday.
Also present were IIUM Rector Datuk Seri Zaleha Kamaruddin and IIUM Centre of Foundation Studies dean Prof Dr Shamsul Jamili Yeob.
Rais pointed out the models of Japan and South Korea showed it was possible to nurture citizens to comply with regulations and hold to their culture without being easily influenced by the wave of modernisation.
“The people and government must champion the creation of a virtuous community to ensure future generations hold on to such values,” he said.
Rais, who is also IIUM president, said he wanted the university to be a catalyst to education conceptualised on character building without marginalising the quality of education.
“Such values could raise the civility of a community as we could lead the people towards a positive direction by using knowledge for the benefit of the community,” he said. — Bernama