I am a 63-year-old retired primary/secondary teacher who had served in more than nine schools from 1960 to 1994. My colleagues and I have witnessed and are still witnessing how our education system has gone through and is still going through many kinds of drastic changes.

Education is the cornerstone in building a strong and united people whose loyalty to their country cuts across racial, religious, social and cultural barriers.

I feel the government and particularly the Education Ministry has had very narrow objectives and motives, if not very short-sighted policies, especially in the context of racial integration. Over the years we have seen many reports by commissions set up by the government being presented to the cabinet but without avail.

Many pronouncements were made but all turned out to be just lip-service and mere hypocrisy where racial integration was concerned. History has repeated itself too often.

Double standards, self-serving interests, empty promises and non-implementation of policies that matter are some of the afflictions of the Education Ministry. Abusing officialdom, rank and power to override accountability are the other sins of the arrogant ministry.

The 'segregation' findings triggered a campaign against the National Union of the Teaching Profession with headlines screaming that its allegations were baseless, concocted, racially-motivated and touched on 'sensitivities'. But it is also telling of the mentality of certain segments of the government and their way of 'silencing' their critics by calling for court and government action.

It's time we grow up and remove our blinkers so we can look at things in their proper perspective.

My colleagues and I have seen and witnessed countless segregation instances and raw racial discrimination where pupils were concerned which is best left unsaid. But for the sake of peace and harmony, something and someone has to be sacrificed so that this hideous practice is put to an end.

NUTP's secretary-general Siva Subramaniam has our sympathy. As a datuk he has served the nation well. Now he stands condemned for not playing up to his masters. He has been 'prosecuted' and persecuted, juried and judged prematurely and unjustly.