GEM Project - Education with Rahmah Gazette (Volume I)

APRIL-JUNE/ 2021 / VOLUME 1

EDUCATION WITH RAHMAH
GAZETTE

Monthly Newsletter of GEM Project under Toyota Foundation Grant 2020
Malaysian Team:

Assoc Prof Dr Mastura Badzis - Prof Dr. Ainol Madziah Zubairi - Khalisa Azman -
Mohd Shawani Ahmad Sabri - Az Athirah Zubairi - Marini Abd Razak - Siti Nur Sabariah Bajunid bt Omar

FEATURED
THIS MONTH:

EDUCATION WITH RAHMAH
WEBINAR 1

EDUCATION WITH RAHMAH

EMPATHY AND CHILDREN'S
MENTAL HEALTH

EMPATHY AWARENESS & THE
ROLES OF EDUCATORS

EDUCATION WITH RAHMAH WEBINAR #1 PAGE 1
HIGHLIGHTS

Empathy is one of the core values in tackling
mental health issues among children in
educational setting.
GEM Project in collaboration with Kuliyyah of
Education, IIUM & InChild, CENTHRA has
successfully organised Education With Rahmah
Webinar #1 on 11th April 2021.

Invited Guest Speakers:

1) Dr. Putri Afzan Maria Zulkifli
2) Mr. Hazhari Ismail
3) Mdm Jasmah Md Hassan

EDUCATION WITH RAHMAH

APRIL-JUNE/ 2021 / VOLUME 1

Assoc. Prof. Dr Mastura Badzis, Kulliyyah of Education, IIUM

RahmahEDUCATION WITH

What is Rahmah? Why is Rahmah important in educational settings?
·Education should spread love, mercy and kindness to
·Arabic term which is defined as mercy, children
tenderness, affection, and kindness ·All teachers should have a sense of love for children,
·Attribute that all Muslims must posses thus
·A universal values of love and ·Every child should feel that they are loved, cared for
compassion and important
Empathy spreads love and positive character building

What is education with rahmah?

·Education that upholds the spirit of empathy
·Education with rahmah will produce individuals with hikmah (or wise) and who are well-
balanced character and successful in life.
·Education that involves finding ways to handle children’s arrays of feelings as tney face
challenges at home and in school.
Children develop empathy and translate them into their daily life practices

Empathy and Children’s Mental Health

by : Pn Jasmah Md Hassan

What is mental health? Why is mental health important in education?

The World Health has a significant effect on children learning.
Organization (WHO) defines Good mental health is associated with learning
mental health as a state of advancement, creativity and productivity, good
well-being in which every physical health condition and prosocial behavior
individual realizes his or her and positive social relationships.
own potential Mental health and socioemotional support are
In the context of children, critical to the success of students and if not
mental health as well as achieved, may lead to school dropouts or school
physical health are essential refusals.
in order to achieve optimal 1 out 4 Malaysian children have mental health
psychological development problems. Of these, only half of them are able to
to their adult age. get help due to stigma.

How does education cater for mental health issues?
Education with empathy

"Obviously, the role of empathy is an essential part not only in teaching but also in every
aspect of life. The significant role of empathy should be translated into daily life practices
among the communities. And for sure, it must be implemented and reflected by all
educators effectively ranging from childcare centers up to higher education levels."

Assoc. Prof Dr. Mastura Badzis

EDUCATION WITH RAHMAH PAGE 2

APRIL-JUNE/ 2021 / VOLUME 1

Hazhari Bin Ismail, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)
EMPATHY AWARENESS

Educators& THE ROLES OF

What is empathy awareness?

Ability to feel and respond to what others are experiencing.

·Three levels of empathy awareness:

o Reflexive empathy- where we feel the pain when we see the pain physically;
o Emotional empathy-we understand other people’s emotion;
o Cognitive empathy- the highest level and it is beyond understanding but extend to giving solution for
other’s problem/issue.

How to instill empathy in education? Why it is important to
(Based on Wang & Han (2011) instill empathy in teachers as well?

·choice: teacher act as facilitator in providing teaching & learning ·teachers are the role model for the students
according to children’s choice and disposition. This will make the child in the classroom. If teachers do not show
happy and enjoy going to school. empathy, the children will do the same. The
same goes with parents.
·Control - teacher let the children to be in control in choosing the activity and
also friends that they wish to work with. This will make the children happy and How do teachers play their
they are ready for the next step of learning. role in instilling empathy?
·Constructing Meaning - in Malaysia education system is examination oriented,
this could hinder the student to see the essence of learning. They only see Firstly, Presence-be flexible with their lesson plan, be
learning as merely to pass exams. creative and be responsive to the children’s need
·Challenge - in breaking out from the comfort zone, teachers are encouraged to according to their emotions and interest. Remember
use other teaching approaches, other than chalk & talk, which is teacher “3H” - Head (cognitive), Hand (learning by doing) &
centered and be willing to get points from their colleagues in improving their Heart (interest), these 3 criteria must be met in order for
teaching. learning to take place.
·Collaboration - peer support among teachers in helping each other in being Secondly, empathy- teachers must have empathy
better. If one is good in technology, this is an advantage and can be used in towards their student from different background. Treat
helping other teachers in using technology in improving their teaching. This also the children individually and avoid making comparison.
can be encouraged in children. The advance children help the one that has yet Teacher also needs to be approachable and do not
to master the skill. limit their time only during class.
·Consequences – learning goes beyond the classroom context and it is not Thirdly, awareness, where teachers need to create the
limited to the time allotted for the subjects. awareness of empathy by showing empathy to the
children. Children learn from their teachers’ behavior.

What is the significant of empathy in the era of online learning?

According to American Psychological Association (APA), screen time for children below 6 years old is 2
hours per day. Therefore, teachers should be aware of this in planning their online learning

Motivation to change for the better

Create awareness to know more Summary of Participants’
A platform to exchange similar issues ReFLECTIONS after the Webinar

Realistics examples are given to make meaning to issues raised

EDUCATION WITH RAHMAH PAGE 3