COMMENT Yet again, we read of racism, religion and politics rearing their ugly heads in the neutral sphere of education.
The latest insulting racist remarks were made by the principal of Sekolah Menengah KebangsaanTunku Abdul Rahman Putra in Kulai, Johor, allegedly against Chinese and Indians during the school's Merdeka day celebration.
The previous incident involved the Klang High School, where the headmistress directed three non-Muslim religious societies in her school to shut down, purportedly on the instruction of the State Education Department.
Then there was the directive to schools not to invite guest of honours from Pakatan Rakyat after the 2008 tsunami general election.
What about cases that have not been reported in the media?
In 2008, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of SK Taman Desa, my 12-year-old nephew's school, was shocked to find out that the Education Department had transferred a dedicated Chinese headmistress within 24 hours. Her perceived misdeed? She was accused of undermining Islam by approving motivational talks of all the religions in the school in the run-up to the UPSR exam.
The allegation was made in a letter which was sent to the Education Ministry and a copy forwarded to Umno.
Neither the headmistress nor the PTA was consulted on the matter. There was also no investigation conducted. And yet a letter to Umno did the job: the power of politics came into play
In yet another incident, the teachers instructed non-Muslim children not to bring cooked food for their canteen day due to religious sensitivities.
One friend’s eight-year-old son told his mother that the ustaz in his school had told the Malay boys not to sit next to their Chinese friends during recess because they ate pork and sweat!?!
I could rant on about similar ugly cases that have cropped up in schools across the Klang Valley and the verbal abuse some of the children have to suffer as a result of racist teachers and false indoctrinations.
All we need to do is speak to the innocent children and stories of racism, discrimination and religious over-zealousness are rampant in schools from Perlis to Johor.
Why are our children’s minds being poisoned by racism, religion and politics?
When parents decide on the education and future of their children, their foremost thought is the quality of the education system – the subjects taught, the knowledge, skills and values the children acquire and the quality of the teachers.
It matters not whether the teachers are Malay, Chinese or Indian. It matters not what are their religious inclinations.
Why should it matter whether the children are Malay, Chinese or Indian? Our children, whatever their race and religion, are the future of this country.
Burden to society
Our country needs to decide what we want from our education system: do we want to mould our children to be of value to society? Or do we want to allow unworthy teachers, an erratic education system and selfish politicians to destroy the minds of our offsprings and the future of this nation?
Children who lack concrete education, universal values and skills, no matter what their race or religion, will become a burden to society.
Aren’t the results of the past 20 to 30 years of an inferior education system proof enough?
Uncaring, biased and racist teachers, religious zealots and self-seeking politicians are clearly responsible for producing the current crop of youths and adults who possess minimal skills. .
For the record, about 75% of Malaysian workers are categorised as unskilled/unemployable while 60% fall under the borderline/poverty margin.
Regular media reports of baby dumping, child abuse and human trafficking reflect a lack of basic human values.
Furthermore, we lack international reputation and recognition. Reports note Malaysian universities that failed to secure a place in China’s top 500 educational institutions listing (forget global listing!).
We produce graduates who lack basic English and are unable to compete in local/global corporate markets.
The rot in our education system, right up to the universities in Malaysia, is clearly represented by the likes of Mingguan Malaysia columnist PhD holder Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, whose biodata reveals he is the product of UKM, UPM and UIA.
His best argument for intellectual debate on matters of race and religion is anchored in personal attacks and the all too familiar “go back to your homeland” cliche.
A superior education system with dedicated and unbiased teachers is crucial to the very foundation of Malaysian society.
Taint our children’s mind with discrimination and their mental perspective will always be constricted by race and religion, which can disastrously disrupt the prime minister’s lofty economic and development plans for this country.
School is neutral ground and children are colour blind.
Racism mouthed by teachers, politicians and so-called academicians will infect our children’s minds and embed cancerous cells of conflict for the future.
And while the current and future gang of racists battle this cancer, the rest of the world, regardless of race and religion, marches forward towards an individualistic, educated, progressive and profitable society.
TM Ranee heads an influential corporate organisation in Selangor. She is a mother of two and actively involved in the lives of her school-going nephews and nieces.
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