THE concept of holistic development is central to Malaysia’s current national education philosophy, which aims to nurture students beyond academic excellence. This approach, known as “Jeris” (Jasmani, Emosi, Rohani, Intelek, Sosial), emphasises the physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and social development of students.
Historically, the Malaysian education system has been heavily exam-oriented, prioritising students’ academic achievements over other aspects of development. This narrow focus on exams does not align with the holistic view of student growth that Jeris represents.