Open letter to Managing Director of The Star Publications.
Dear Mr. P. Gunasegaram,
I came across your article “Can we flow into a single stream?” in the Star dated Nov 6, 2009. Thus, I wonder is that really a good idea to flow into single stream to overcome all the problems mentioned in the article?
I would like to share my point of view as I strongly disagree with your suggestion. Children being sent to vernacular schools based on their racial and religious heritage are true. In this case the children do not get opportunity to interact with students of other races is true as well. However, this does not lead to lack of national unity. I believe, Malaysian school syllabus is derived from the importance of national unity. Despite the environment which has no exposure to multiracial settings in vernacular schools, the syllabus still assists to create the understanding on the importance of national unity. For instance, if we look at the passages in school text books, both, vernacular schools and national schools they are produced in order to expose students on different culture and tradition being practiced in Malaysia. Hence, students get the knowledge of different culture which I think very important to sustain national unity from their primary school itself.
Moreover, when these students enter secondary school, they will not be surprised to share the new environment in school with students of other races as they have gotten the basic knowledge of different culture and tradition since they were in primary school. Conversely, interaction can be intervallic perhaps for few months among students from vernacular schools due to their familiarity in formative years. However, it can never take long duration for them to mingle with new group of students since we belong to multiracial country. Growing up in multiracial settings since born, vernacular schools can never be a barrier for interaction and to endorse national unity among students. Yet, the depressing issue is that some teachers being racist in secondary schools possibly due to the stereotypes they have on students from vernacular schools.
On the other hand, I see eye to eye on the enforcement of vision schools. Vision schools are the government’s one of the most valuable decision to build national unity among students. By supporting this strategy I believe we, Malaysians reach mutual understanding. Instead of putting effort building consensus on a single stream, it is best to show consent on building more vision schools and at the same time enhance the educational system in all the schools.
I was contemplating over this issue quite some time as I was uncertain about other races’ view on vernacular schools. However, ‘Tamil school fun for Malay kids’, an article in the Star dated Jan 8, 2010 lighted me up and here am I boldly sharing my view. My solute to Rokiah Ali and Mohd Tazili Mohd Shah who confidently took the decision to enroll their children in a Tamil school!
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