SAR deserves support
KHKPublished: Feb 28, 2003 1:20 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Yours is the only English based publication that has given consistent coverage on the private religious schools or Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) issue. You deserve praise for that.
I am also very glad that Dong Jiao Zong had taken a position in support of the Sekolah Agama Rakyat. It would have been a contradiction of a sort if they had not.
I have been looking out for someone among the many liberals who regularly contribute to your letters column to write in support of SAR. Thus far there has been none. I find this very odd.
There have been many letters on press freedom, the new education policy on the use of English in local schools, the impending war in Iraq and bumiputera special privileges; why has there been none on SAR since the government's move to stop their per capita funds? Could it be that these liberals generally agree with the government's action and intention?
For me the SAR issue relates to our basic right to educate our children the way we as parents think fit. Unless it is proven to be detrimental to the welfare of the children we should be given and allowed the avenue to choose.
The government has aknowledged that national primary schools have failed to attract Chinese and Indian parents to enrol their children there. I believe it was mentioned that 90 percent of Chinese Malaysian primary pupils are enrolled in national-type Chinese primary schools and thousands of Malay Malaysians have opted for SAR. These schools must be doing something right.
Parents are the most demanding consumers when it comes to the education of their children. They have to a large degree decided that these schools are right for their children. Rather than penalising these schools, the right thing to do is to support them.
However, the government chose to do the opposite.
SAR has been penalised because of political reasons. It has been perceived to be a breeding ground for the opposition. Any other reasons that have been proferred are peripheral to this one perception.
It is a sad fate for SAR as it grew from the ground, from the people. For this reason alone, if not for any other, it deserves support.
I am also very glad that Dong Jiao Zong had taken a position in support of the Sekolah Agama Rakyat. It would have been a contradiction of a sort if they had not.
I have been looking out for someone among the many liberals who regularly contribute to your letters column to write in support of SAR. Thus far there has been none. I find this very odd.
There have been many letters on press freedom, the new education policy on the use of English in local schools, the impending war in Iraq and bumiputera special privileges; why has there been none on SAR since the government's move to stop their per capita funds? Could it be that these liberals generally agree with the government's action and intention?
For me the SAR issue relates to our basic right to educate our children the way we as parents think fit. Unless it is proven to be detrimental to the welfare of the children we should be given and allowed the avenue to choose.
The government has aknowledged that national primary schools have failed to attract Chinese and Indian parents to enrol their children there. I believe it was mentioned that 90 percent of Chinese Malaysian primary pupils are enrolled in national-type Chinese primary schools and thousands of Malay Malaysians have opted for SAR. These schools must be doing something right.
Parents are the most demanding consumers when it comes to the education of their children. They have to a large degree decided that these schools are right for their children. Rather than penalising these schools, the right thing to do is to support them.
However, the government chose to do the opposite.
SAR has been penalised because of political reasons. It has been perceived to be a breeding ground for the opposition. Any other reasons that have been proferred are peripheral to this one perception.
It is a sad fate for SAR as it grew from the ground, from the people. For this reason alone, if not for any other, it deserves support.
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