According to media reports, Minister in the Prime Minister Department Dato Seri Abdul Wahid Omar has said in an economic forum that a single stream school should be given priority by the Government, to ensure that students of various ethnic groups will get to know each other. According to the minister the harmonious relationship among ethnic groups, has to start from primary school, where students will be place into a single system to ensure economic growth through unity among ethnic groups.
The statement by the minister seems to be noble, but it defies reality of the very nature of our political System that has reinforced the ethnic nature of the
National and vernacular schools. For an example Umno,MCA and MIC are ethnic oriented political entities which are currently reflected in the national and vernacular school. It is quite hypocritical to speak about 1 stream school for all ethnic groups and at same time having political structure and system that divides communities. Even if we follow the logic of the minister, the ethno –religious manipulation of political elites for political survival will nullify the ideal of 1 stream national schools that minister is talking about. How could ethnic unity that starts from primary school with single stream that the minister speaks about, would reconcile with ethnic centric institution like University Mara? Unless the minister is able to connect the lines from primary schools to university, any assertions on his part that subtlety espouse the abolition of vernacular centered education seems shallow.
The fact is the vernacular schools are a reality. It is obvious that 95 percent of Chinese parents send their children to Chinese schools and over 60 percent of Indian parents sent their children to Tamil schools. Denying their rights of these parents would exacerbate the brain drain problem in Malaysia. There should be initiative among the minister to first and foremost address the nature of national schools that has an Islamic orientation, and declining standards. It is natural for parents to desire the best education for their children. It is the duty of the government to convince parents that mother tongue education is there to stay, and the character of national schools will reflect the multiethnic nature of our beloved country, besides enhancing the standards of education. In the current global world where the dominance English language, and Western culture, safeguarding and the development of mother tongue education is duty of a responsible
government.
Therefore it would be wise for the minister to address the above mentioned short comings related to ethno centric political system that reinforce the segmentation of ethnic communities into ethno centric schools, and address the short comings of the national schools before proposing single stream schools. Political Elites who are concern about multiethnic unity in schools should be honest and truthful in addressing shortcomings, instead of coming up with statements that smacks hypocrisy.