YOURSAY | Improve quality of national schools

YOURSAY | ‘Year in and year out, the focus is always on vernacular schools.’

Improve vernacular school syllabus, not abolish system – panellists

OceanMasterII: Vernacular schools continue to exist because of how mainstream schools have pivoted into a single-race and religion-monopolised agenda.

In Singapore, the education system is secular. No religious or racial agenda is allowed within the syllabus.

Additionally, mother tongue languages are compulsory subjects.

With that, Singapore can find its sweet spot to keep its society integrated as much as possible.  

In Malaysia today, achieving a balance in the national education system where all students, notwithstanding their race or religion, are provided equal opportunity to succeed is extremely unlikely.

The tone for racial and religious segregation was and continues to be set by the government with an overwhelming advantage towards Malay-Muslim students.  

Those middle-class non-Malay parents prefer to send their kids to international schools where the education system is a lot more balanced and provides an ecosystem for the students to flourish within their capacities.

Vernacular schools are mostly left as an alternative for parents who want a fair education for their children but cannot afford the cost of an international school fee structure.  

As long as the government continues to promote racially and religiously biased education policies, the vernacular schools will continue to thrive.

Bobby O: The right answer is a singular school system, like what it was in the 1960s and 1970s.  

Take out religion and bring in the best educators, irrespective of race, to manage and teach.  

Return to the original language subjects taught, including English, and students must pass Bahasa Malaysia as a subject.

Meritocracy should be practised at all levels of education whether it is in studies or selecting students to represent the school in the games.  

It is not the fault of the vernacular schools that the country is facing problems in assimilation, it is the politicians and religious radicals who are causing division amongst the people.

Learn from Sarawak and its leaders. They will not allow such practices in their state.

They have no problems assimilating and even their command of the national language could be easily emulated.

As for the vernacular school system, it is still the only system that is churning out capable future citizens.

At the same time, teach discipline and make sure that each child is educated.  

Steven Ong: Abolish the Chinese schools and you would create a lower standard for citizens in Malaysia.

The country would be ruined even sooner. What a foolish suggestion. Chinese schools are the symbol of excellence in Malaysia.

Today, more and more Malays want their children to be in Chinese schools.

Proficiency in many languages is a gift and many are deceived and kept boasting when they can’t speak another language.

The evidence is there. Those unable to speak other languages besides Bahasa Malaysia are the ones left behind and need a lot of help from the government.

The Malays who can speak English well are more successful than their peers.

We should acknowledge what is fact and follow what is good for all and the country. 

Mat M Din: To improve the quality of national schools and to foster and attract children to study together at a young age, it is suggested both Bahasa Malaysia and English be used as the medium of instruction.

Teach Mathematics and Science in English and use Bahasa Malaysia to teach other subjects.

Recruit highly qualified and experienced teachers who can teach in English.

In this respect, it will enable Malaysia to raise the quality of its education smoothly and quickly. 

If the Dual Language Programme (DLP) could be properly managed to improve the quality of education in national schools, it could attract more children from all communities to study together in national schools, thereby fostering racial unity.

Milshah: Former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew did the right thing in abolishing vernacular schools.

That shows that given the opportunity, even a Chinese leader of his stature agrees to have a one-school system.  

Those who prefer a multiple-school system are just taking the government and the majority for a ride.

They just want to preserve their culture and language. They want to protect their rights. Nothing more.  

This has led to race polarisation, where national schools are almost 100 percent Malay and vernacular schools are mostly Chinese or Indian.  

They want equal rights except for their schools and their education system.

VS: You need a transparent, quality-focused education system that values meritocracy and excellence.

A fair and just system that treats all races equally without prejudice.

Quality of education is a priority, and it is emphasised in vernacular schools irrespective of race or religion.

Vernacular schools believe in these values. So let us keep things as they are.

We are glad vernacular schools are now doing well, though they face insufficient funding from the government.

The additional financial support from parents of students will keep things moving correctly.

The government on its part can increase funding to these deserving schools and win over the appreciation of minorities onto their side.

Xi Go Kau Lat_28111: Year in and year out, the focus is always on vernacular schools.

According to “experts”, unity cannot be achieved because of these schools. Is it true?

Did anyone do a study to find out other root causes? What about quota systems favouring one race?

What about unequal treatment? And these “experts” always give other “successful” countries as examples!

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