Pagalavan's Avatar

Why, especially the non-Malays are shifting away from the national schools? Well, I think everyone knows the answer.

To say that the Chinese and Indians prefer vernacular schools is total bullshit. If you go back to the 60s and 70s, many of these vernacular schools were on the verge of being closed down. When I was in a national school in the 80s, there were good mixture of all races. So, What happened?

Well, again you have to ask the politicians. Politicisation of the education system started towards the end of 1970s and became full-fledged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. What are the problems?:

1) Poor quality of teachers: teachers being absorbed without any merit

2) Unemployed graduates being absorbed as teachers just to get a job, no commitment necessary

3) Islamization and Malaynisation of the schools. Saying “Doas” and prayers during assembly!. “Doas” and arabic words all over the school compounds!

4)discrimination of non-malay students in classroom and activities. In my son’s school, the agama teacher gave free makan to all Muslim students in the canteen during recess while all the non-Muslim students just watched!!

5) Teachers that do not respect other races and religions. Giving remarks that hurt the feelings of other races.

6) Quota system for the post for Headmasters in national schools : if you don’t believe me please ask your local education department. In my state, only 3-4 post is allocated for non-malays

7) No equal opportunities. Even if a person were to attend a national school in the name of patriotism, is there equal opportunities in further studies? Many of my Malay friends went missing after Standard 6 as they were absorbed to MARA colleges, agama schools and boarding schools. When I reached Form 5, there were only 1 Malay student in the entire Science stream!! After that, comes matriculation which was reserved for only 1 race! Of course, not to forget the scholarship issues etc, where your friend/neighbour with worst result will be given a scholarship for overseas studies! So, why bother sending to national schools.

I received this SMS today from a friend:

“Friend’s kid in convent …. primary tells me that kids streamed according to race not merit. Only handful of non-malays in A class; Arab language (not Jawi) is compulsory. Mandarin/Tamil is not. That also only 1 token class per week and not regular. This country is a gone case”

You can judge for yourself.