Reflections on the Human Condition - Api-fellowships.org

340 SESSION V
while at the same time, not neglecting its role and
responsibility in preventive and rehabilitative services.
Today, DSW remains an important government agency
monitoring the pulse of the nation at its grassroots in
creating and developing a Malaysian community to
meet the challenges of the new millennium, due to
rapid socio-economic development and increase in
social upheavals.
Currently, the focus of social welfare provision is to
increase the quality of life of society as a whole. The
work not only gives emphasis in aspects of survival,
protection and rehabilitation but also to incorporate
social human development. The participation of all
levels of the community, government agencies, private/
corporate sectors and non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) are focused on smart partnerships and aligned
to the call for “Welfare is a Joint Responsibility” to
achieve the objectives of the National Social Welfare
Policy in providing equal opportunities and creating
a caring society to meet the present challenges. Social
welfare is not only fulfilling its role in giving assistance
but to provide the means and the environment for a
caring society. Building a caring society is challenge
number seven in Vision 2020 which was introduced by
former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
However, when we talk about social welfare and child
welfare in Malaysia, we cannot separate the welfare
system with their development strategy. One of the
important strategies of development is related to
challenge number six in “Vision 2020”, i.e. creating a
scientific and progressive society. The society has a full
vision on the importance strategic technology—not
only a society who uses technology, but also invents and
contributes their findings to world civilization.
The Smart School and Vision School
To answer challenge number six, they allocated their
budget in programs related to technology development,
such as education and health. The government
emphasized education that builds the younger
generation to deal with the future challenge. In relation
to this, the concept of “Smart School” was developed
in order to produce young dynamic and intelligent
Malaysians who can adapt the norms and values of the
Malaysian way of life.
The implication of “Smart School” concept required
increased involvement of students with information
technology. However, the interaction between students
and world values should not decrease their awareness,
love and sense of belonging with their culture. The
Ref lections on the Human Condition: Change, Conflict and Modernity
The Work of the 2004/2005 API Fellows
balance between Malaysian and world’s norms and
values, and also with technological development, is one
recipe in creating the “Smart Malaysian”.
However, the “Smart School” called for changes in
the methods of teaching and learning to adapt current
national and international demands. This system also
tried to increase the quality, effectiveness, comfort and
interest in the education environment. The government
tried to build Malaysian education as the centre of
excellence for world standard education in the region.
In order to create the “Smart School”, five programs
should be implemented, i.e. smart curriculum, smart
teaching, smart learning, smart assessment, and smart
management. According to Mohd. Jali (2003, 242),
the strategies to achieve “Smart School” goals are: 1)
inculcating and stressing education on noble values
to create a society that is harmonious, giving priority
to academic excellence, have social and nationhood
concern; 2) inculcating the ability to think based
on comprehensive and integrated knowledge and
technology. It includes exploring and exposing the
use of science and technology; 3) creating flexible
curriculum and democratizing education following
changes on teaching and learning situation and also
the development of students intelligence; 4) nurturing
emotional intelligence that can be made used to improve
one’s tenacity; and 5) establishing an efficient and farsighted
education management.
The programs and strategies above were created in order
to answer challenge number six and seven in the “Vision
2020”, i.e. creating a caring and also technological
literate society. In order to push Malaysian to become
a caring society, the government realized that they have
to consider creating school which can integrate the
three dominant races—Malay, India (mostly Tamil)
and Chinese—in Malaysian society.
The government tries to integrate children from these
races in one entity—the Malaysian children. The
government built the new concept of school which
they called Sekolah Wawasan [School with a Vision].
Sekolah Wawasan (http://www.kompas.com/kompascetak/0404/29/PendLN/995368.htm)
was created in
order to develop the sense of belonging and the unity
of the three races. The Sekolah Wawasan project was
introduced in 2001. However, this is not a new concept;
it is a continuation concept from the Program Integrasi
Sekolah [Integrated School Programme]. This program
was introduced in 1986, which enabled students from
different races and groups to interact in daily school
activities. Through the concept of Sekolah Wawasan,