No point continuing if nothing changes at ministry, says teacher Mohd Fadli

PETALING JAYA: The teacher at the centre of a viral Facebook post questioning issues affecting pupils feels there's no use in continuing his career if no changes take place at the Education Ministry.

Primary school teacher Mohd Fadli Mohamed Salleh, in a Facebook Live broadcast on Sunday night (Oct 16), said the ministry should be open to criticism and accept change.

“There is no use for me to save my career if there are no changes,” he said, adding that his sentiment was shared by other teachers and education officials.

Mohd Fadli, in the 90-minute broadcast, said there needed to be a shift in the ministry's leadership.

“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,” he said.

Refuting claims that he was eyeing an advisory role at the ministry, Mohd Fadli said there should be a distinction between education and politics.

"Don’t set people up in certain positions. Make sure they are qualified and have the teachers’ spirit," he said.

Mohd Fadli, a mathematics teacher at a primary school in Gombak, claimed on his Facebook page last Saturday (Oct 15) that he would be fired or demoted for voicing his views on the learning syllabus that he considered was of too high a level and inappropriate for students.

He also highlighted other claims in his post, including the high number of students per class, the number of subjects and the issue of heavy school bags that he said could be harmful to students’ health.

The Education Ministry in a letter had said Mohd Fadhli may face action for not going through the proper channels in voicing his dissatisfaction.

The letter said action can be taken against Mohd Fadhli for contravening Regulation 19(1)(c) Public Officers Regulation (Conduct and Discipline) 1993.

Mohd Fadli's post had since caught the attention of several high-ranking officials, including Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The Prime Minister hopes a win-win situation can be achieved on the issue.

"The ministry cannot let staff who make comments (on social media) get away scot-free, but at the same time, too harsh a punishment for officers and staff is also inappropriate, while officers and staff also need to respect the ministry," he told reporters on Sunday.

Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin, via a post on his Facebook account on Sunday, expressed his willingness to meet the teacher.

Meanwhile, the Education Service Disciplinary Board is scheduled to convene on Monday after receiving a letter of representation submitted by Mohd Fadli.

Education director-general Datuk Pkharuddin Ghazali said the letter received by Mohd Fadli did not mean that punishment had been handed down by the board but was to inform him that the board had received his claims and there was a need to submit a written representation or explanation.