Religious teachers sent to Chinese primary schools, number of teachers reduced in one on one swap

Sin Chew Daily, 18 July 2016

(Perak, Taiping 17 July, 2016) Perak Chinese Schools Committees Association (Dong Lian Hui) chairman Datuk Lee Kon Yin discloses that some Chinese primary schools in the state receive notification that the education department would be sending Islamic teachers to Chinese primary schools with Malay pupils. The move would reduce the number of teachers in Chinese primary schools.

He said not long ago officials have informed some Chinese primary schools that the authorities would be sending Islamic teachers to teach in Chinese primary schools. Such schools would need to accommodate the Islamic teachers through a one on one swap in terms of number of teachers.

“This means that if the Chinese primary school has 30 teachers, when the education department sends a religious teacher to the school, the existing number of teachers is reduced by one in order to accommodate the religious teacher.”

Fear such practice may be extended to other Chinese primary schools

Lee, while attending the teacher’s day celebration lunch reception at the Larut Matang and Selama district, said currently one to two Chinese primary schools have received such notice. He would be reporting the matter to United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) and deputy education minister Chong Sin Woon.

He said Dong Lian Hui welcomes the arrival of Islamic teachers sent by education department to Chinese primary schools with Malay pupils. However, it does not agree with the move to reduce the number of teachers.

He is of the view that some officials may be experimenting. If such move is not blocked, it may be extended to other Chinese primary schools and even vernacular secondary schools.

Firm in opposing double language programme

Lee hopes the board of directors of schools and headmasters inform Dong Lian Hui once receiving such notice so that Dong Zong and Education Ministry would be informed.

He said although Dong Zong opposes double language programme, the Education Ministry insists on continuing with its implementation of the project in 2017. The project would also be extended to other streams of primary schools. Once the double language programme starts in Chinese primary schools, the characteristics of Chinese primary schools where Chinese is medium of instruction would be lost. The features of Chinese primary schools would begin to change.

“Dong Zong urges all board of directors in schools and parent teacher associations throughout the country to remain firm in rejecting the implementation of double language programme. The programme would see number of classes conducted in Chinese drastically reduced. This tarnishes the characteristics of Chinese primary schools.”

He said primary school is the stage for basic education. Using mother tongue to teach ensures best learning results for students. The government has failed to teach mathematics and science in English in 2003. The mistake should not be repeated where more pupils are going to suffer.