Hear! Hear! Quote from Dr Rais Yatim

The Sun this weekend will published an interview conducted with Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, our Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage. In a snippet provided today, Datuk Seri Rais is quoted to have argued the following, which is a sensitive but critical subject in the Malaysian education system.

Have religious classes by all means. But keep away Islam from other aspects of life in the school. No doa at the assembly, no doa in the classroom except during religious classes. Then, and only then can the national school be the crucible where shared experience is cooked.

In recent months, the retired politicians and civil servants have spoken critically about the state of the current education system. There comments are blogged here and here. Now, a sitting Minister of our current cabinet have bravely spoken. Is anyone listening? Can we expect changes?

I'll look out for the entire interview in the Sun tomorrow.