Local Schools To Introduce ‘Pendidikan Karakter’ Next Year

By Lara Kramer  •  17 Oct 2025 in News

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Malaysia’s education system is set to undergo another major reform. Beginning next year, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will introduce a new subject called Pendidikan Karakter, designed to nurture students’ morals, values, and personal growth from an early age.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced that preparations are already underway for the rollout, which will begin at the preschool level before expanding to all stages of schooling.

She explained that Pendidikan Karakter will serve as a cornerstone of the upcoming 2027 School Curriculum, which shifts focus beyond academics to include emotional intelligence and character-building.

“We are now developing the 2027 curriculum, and one of its key subjects is Pendidikan Karakter,” Fadhlina said during a Dewan Rakyat session. “It will form the backbone of the 2026 education framework, reinforcing the importance of values, morals, and personality that already exist in our syllabus.”

The minister added that this initiative supports the ministry’s vision of producing students who are not only intelligent but also compassionate, resilient, and grounded in strong ethics.

Addressing concerns about student mental health, Fadhlina noted that the ministry conducts screenings twice a year to identify students experiencing emotional or psychological distress.

Those showing signs of depression or anxiety are referred to professionals, including specialists from the Ministry of Health. She added that collaborative interventions with psychiatrists are already in place and will be further strengthened under the new reforms through expanded training and quicker response programmes.

“Schools cannot do this alone,” she said. “Parents also play an essential role in supporting their children’s mental and emotional well-being.”

With Pendidikan Karakter at the core of the 2027 curriculum, the MOE aims to create a generation of students shaped not only by knowledge, but by empathy, integrity, and emotional strength.

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