then the Chinese and Tamil schools will lose their appeal.
It is a fact that generally, Chinese schools now have more than 10% non-Chinese students but national schools have less than 10% non-Malay students. Yet, private schools using English as medium of instruction are gaining popularity despite their astronomical fees, which in a way, proves that parents (if they can afford) choose higher educational standards rather than their love for Chinese or Tamil schools.
Young parents, if they can afford, set aside funds for their children's education. They are paying more than Rm1,000 per month to playschools or kindergartens and school fees high enough for overseas education, just to ensure their children are well educated to have a good start at institutions of higher learning.
As a parent who had three children who attended national schools up to 2002, I think religion rather than race seems to be the biggest divide. Many people looked back fondly to the days when they could mix freely without having to worry about halal food. Now, having a party at home means using paper plates and cups and preferably using halal caterers. Fresh fruits like water melons and papayas are welcome provided they are not cut in Chinese homes (Indian seems ok). Canteens are now almost halal in most national schools.
Malay teachers put pressure on colleagues and students to use tudungs (despite medical reasons) and slowly but surely, national schools are being Islamized. Besides, if teachers themselves cannot speak or write good English, the standard of the language can only drop despite all the efforts by education ministry. Most students in urban areas can speak better than their teachers. The question is whether we are serious about raising standards to meet the demands of the parents who are likely to be influenced by demands in the job market. I have even heard of a ludicrous reason why there are now more private educational institutions: the ministry are generously giving out licences because it is easier than trying to improve the national schools!
Malaysiakini has a good selection of letters of people's experiences and the reasons why national schools should improve first before calling for the closure of Chinese or Tamil schools...
Parents want the best education for their children
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/230162
Link
It is a fact that generally, Chinese schools now have more than 10% non-Chinese students but national schools have less than 10% non-Malay students. Yet, private schools using English as medium of instruction are gaining popularity despite their astronomical fees, which in a way, proves that parents (if they can afford) choose higher educational standards rather than their love for Chinese or Tamil schools.
Young parents, if they can afford, set aside funds for their children's education. They are paying more than Rm1,000 per month to playschools or kindergartens and school fees high enough for overseas education, just to ensure their children are well educated to have a good start at institutions of higher learning.
As a parent who had three children who attended national schools up to 2002, I think religion rather than race seems to be the biggest divide. Many people looked back fondly to the days when they could mix freely without having to worry about halal food. Now, having a party at home means using paper plates and cups and preferably using halal caterers. Fresh fruits like water melons and papayas are welcome provided they are not cut in Chinese homes (Indian seems ok). Canteens are now almost halal in most national schools.
Malay teachers put pressure on colleagues and students to use tudungs (despite medical reasons) and slowly but surely, national schools are being Islamized. Besides, if teachers themselves cannot speak or write good English, the standard of the language can only drop despite all the efforts by education ministry. Most students in urban areas can speak better than their teachers. The question is whether we are serious about raising standards to meet the demands of the parents who are likely to be influenced by demands in the job market. I have even heard of a ludicrous reason why there are now more private educational institutions: the ministry are generously giving out licences because it is easier than trying to improve the national schools!
Malaysiakini has a good selection of letters of people's experiences and the reasons why national schools should improve first before calling for the closure of Chinese or Tamil schools...
Parents want the best education for their children
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/230162
Dear brother,
ReplyDeleteYou have rather hit the bull's eye on this issue. It's about quality education. I suggest Malaysians abide by a single national-school basic curriculum with value-added vernacular co-curriculum, if thatis desired. This means that Chinese or Tamil or English boards of educational trustees are given the leeway to style the character of the schools they manage.
To leave the children in the status quo of vernacular-segregated educational experience is to go along the fragmenting trail into the future and to abandon the ideals of this peaceful and successful country. "Malaysian" Chinese and Tamils have nowhere better to go quite simply truly.