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Media Statement
by M. Kula Segaran
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(Ipoh, Monday) : It has always been practiced and has been the policy that if a student is studying in a National Type School (Sekolah Kebangsaan) she can choose and opt at any time to transfer and continue her studies in a Chinese or Tamil school.

Of late many parents have been complaining that their children are not allowed to be transferred from National Type (Kebangsaan Schools) to Chinese or Tamil Schools (SJK ). Apparently this "new" policy has been enforced strictly by the Education Department without due regard to the convenience interest of the parents or the students.

Last week it was revealed by the Perak State Exco member Datuk Ho Cheng Wang that that the Minister of Education disallows those students who want to move from National schools to Chinese or Tamil schools. We are also surprised that the according to Ho the Education Department disallows the transfer by virtue of  section 8 of the Education Act 1996.

The Education Act 1996 Section 8 of the Act only prescribes inter alia " the Minister may from time to time give an officer appointed. ..directions of a general character, and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act on all matters which appear to the Minister to affect the National Education Policy, and the officer shall give effect to every such direction"

The preamble of the act clearly states "that pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of their parents"

Who has got it wrong - the Minister of Education or its officials?

Did the Minister of Education ever issue any directive to the Education department to disallow the transfer of students? If so when and why was this directive issued? This directive if it does exist is :

1. Inconsistent with the basis tenets of the right of free choice to decide where one wants to study;

2. In this globalize and competitive world this directive is illogical and restricts the free movement of students;

3. Retards a child's power to acquire knowledge especially the growth of mother tongue education;

4. Affects the process of attaining the status of a fully developed country by 2020;

5. Affects racial harmony, unity and peace among the various races.

Now who has got the directives wrong? Is it the Minister or the Department officials? Either the Minister or the Department officials are acting on their own without little or no due regard to the very aim of the Education Act namely the "choice of education should be decided by the parents"

Surprisingly the above directive does not apply to transfers of students studying in Chinese or Tamil schools to SK schools. Why we have inconsistent and double standards policies?  The polices are very much discriminating against SJK schools?

The present scheme on book loans to students is totally unacceptable

Presently in SK Schools parents who earn up to RM2000 a month are qualified to get free school books under the above scheme. But this is limited to RM1000 per month income for students in SJK schools. Why this double standards? The present policy of school book loans is in favor of SK schools as compared to SJK schools.

Why punish poor parents for choosing to send children to SJK schools?
 

Even developed countries and even UNESCO gives due recognition to mother tongue education. What is being practiced is just the opposite.

The present policy is discriminatory and is contrary to Article 12(1) (6) of the Federal Constitution. What is urgently required is a policy change.

Why MCA, Gerakan, MIC, SUPP agree to the present directive of the Ministry of Education

The above polices and the directive to disallow transfers of pupils has been around for some time. Unfortunately for convenience many parents just accept the decision of the Education Ministry without really questioning it. But we have political parties in the BN coalition who ought to have objected and disallowed this form of policies to be implemented. Being in the BN coalition and neglecting the interest of parents and students is just treachery.

Even if the MCA, Gerakan, MIC and SUPP object and want changes will UMNO agree to this?

We urge the Government to be fair and reasonable to all. We will not be cowed by the Education Ministry. We will continue to raise the above issues frequently in Parliament so that the Government of the day will adhere to just and fair principles.

(21/5/2007)