Religious National Schools

In a letter published in the New Straits Times yesterday, Kahisan wrote about the perceived conversion of national schools to religious institutions.

I am an old boy of Kajang High School and feel compelled to express my concerns in relation to the current situation at the school. I recently went to the school and noticed seven new signboards with religious verses put up at some expense. The image conveyed to anyone driving up to Kajang High School is that one was entering a religious school.

I have written earlier with regards to where to send my 1 year old girl when the time comes for her to go to school. While it may not be as important to many other parents, one of the most important consideration for me is to ensure that she is exposed to the multiracial culture and environment in Malaysia from a young age. However, if the progressive conversion of national schools to religious schools continues unabated, the day will come whereby I will have to reluctantly decide that national schools will no longer be an option for her.

Given that these "conversion" activities carried out often independently by the school administrators are well known to the Ministry of Education, the latter should take up the responsibilities of issuing the guidelines to these schools to ensure that the character of national schools are not altered for the wrong reasons. As Kahisan rightly pointed out:

Clearly the school administration had given little thought to the impact the signs would have on the non-Malay student population and their parents.

The Education Ministry, as a stakeholder in the national education system, has to ensure that schools are equipped to handle the expectations of students of every race who enrol in national schools. The ministry should also do its part to foster national unity and ensure schools appear friendly to all ethnic groups in the country.

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, our honourable Minister of Education, I have heard you extol your vision of the national school system being the de facto preferred education system for all Malaysians, regardless of race and religion during on of the Oxbridge society organised forums. I implore you to walk the talk, and take the necessary measures to protect our national school culture which even our dear Prime Minister is reminiscing to ensure that it remains the fertile ground to foster national unity for young Malaysians instead of one which openly preaches seggregation.