The letter by Tony Chew, " What else are the authorities 'unaware' of?

" (Dec 24), reminded me of a conversation with a Chinese friend who was the supervisor in a Batu Pahat school. At the end of each year, it was her duty to recommend five teachers for promotion. However, she had to heed the instruction of her Malay principal: four of the five teachers to be promoted must be Malay.

She was left in an awkward position explaining to the other non-Malay teachers why they were not picked when it was obvious that they were better than some of the promoted Malay teachers.

In another instance, the headmistress of a Chinese school told me that she was forced to "purchase" and receive items - such as exercise books and socks - sold by the local education bureau. When she protested, she was told, "Guru besar jangan cakap banyak" (School heads, don't talk too much).

Another teacher in a government school complained to me that his principal did not care for the welfare of her Chinese students. If these students do not attend school, or misbehave, no concern is shown.

I have long believed that polarisation in our schools and universities is the work of the authorities. Today, news reports of segregation confirm my beliefs.

If nothing is done to remove the offending principals or education department officials, they would be allowed to continue with their private agenda with just a slap on their wrist. Today, segregation in our schools. Tomorrow, segregation everywhere.

The National Union of the Teaching Profession has opened a can of worms which has worried the authorities because it represents a tip of the iceberg. The iceberg represents the bigger issue of problems in national integration.

The Education Ministry was once the most important post after those of the prime minister and deputy prime minister. The minister was normally tipped to be the next prime minister or his deputy. It's time that we have someone of a better calibre take charge of the education ministry and who will say, "The buck stops here."