Titas would benefit the Chinese, says don
Published: Jul 23, 2013 4:33 AM | Updated: Jul 23, 2013 2:46 PM
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) professor Teo Kok Seong has expressed his disappointment at several Chinese leaders who do not support the Teaching of Islamic and Asian civilisations (Titas) in private institutions.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) professor Teo Kok Seong has expressed his disappointment at several Chinese leaders who do not support the Teaching of Islamic and Asian civilisations (Titas) in private institutions.
Teo, a research fellow at the Institute of Malay World and Civilisation, said they should support the effort as such knowledge would benefit the Chinese community.
“People say it is retribution against the Chinese community as the government does not want to follow their whims. MCA is also seen as fanning the conflict further whereas it should support the effort as there is a bigger agenda for the future of the country,” he told Utusan Malaysia.
The bigger agenda, Teo said, is for the various races to understand the similarities and differences among the people as at present there is no formal education to address this matter.
He said if we look at those coming out of private secondary schools, they say that they are patriotic but they could not converse in Bahasa Malaysia well, do not understand the country’s history, and the basics in the country as the sex couple Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee had done.
“Titas in private higher institution is to resolve the issue faced by citizens who do not know our history and civilisation. The ultimate purpose is to create better understanding, fostering unity and inculcating the development of a national identity,” he said.
According to Teo, the compulsory teaching of the subject is to mould the youth in public and private institutions of higher learning so that they would possess social science knowledge and build their humanity aspect in each of the student.
Meanwhile, New Straits Times quoted Higher Education Department director-general Prof Dr Morshidi Sirat as saying the students could be assessed through an assignment-to-examination ratio of 70:30, 60:40, and 50:50.
Morshidi said private institutions have the options to choose the three mode of assessment.
He said the course focuses on civilisation studies particularly Islamic and Asian, including Chinese and Indian civilisations, and its interaction with each other and modern western civilisation.
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Teo, a research fellow at the Institute of Malay World and Civilisation, said they should support the effort as such knowledge would benefit the Chinese community.
“People say it is retribution against the Chinese community as the government does not want to follow their whims. MCA is also seen as fanning the conflict further whereas it should support the effort as there is a bigger agenda for the future of the country,” he told Utusan Malaysia.
The bigger agenda, Teo said, is for the various races to understand the similarities and differences among the people as at present there is no formal education to address this matter.
He said if we look at those coming out of private secondary schools, they say that they are patriotic but they could not converse in Bahasa Malaysia well, do not understand the country’s history, and the basics in the country as the sex couple Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee had done.
“Titas in private higher institution is to resolve the issue faced by citizens who do not know our history and civilisation. The ultimate purpose is to create better understanding, fostering unity and inculcating the development of a national identity,” he said.
According to Teo, the compulsory teaching of the subject is to mould the youth in public and private institutions of higher learning so that they would possess social science knowledge and build their humanity aspect in each of the student.
Meanwhile, New Straits Times quoted Higher Education Department director-general Prof Dr Morshidi Sirat as saying the students could be assessed through an assignment-to-examination ratio of 70:30, 60:40, and 50:50.
Morshidi said private institutions have the options to choose the three mode of assessment.
He said the course focuses on civilisation studies particularly Islamic and Asian, including Chinese and Indian civilisations, and its interaction with each other and modern western civilisation.
Related stories
Should the state interfere in education syllabus?
'Titas will inculcate harmony and nationalism'
Lack of trust leads to Titas fury and friction
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