RM270 million spent on English yet no results

Sometimes, I really wonder if the people in charge of formulating & executing policies are really qualified, or experienced. From the day Malaysia switched the medium of instruction from English to Bahasa Melayu, many people, including those who have gone through the system, could see that the standards have fallen. The negative perception of the various education related ministries & agencies have begun to be proven true with each passing year.

Here's the scenerio.

1. They acknowledge that our English standard needs to be raised.
2. But because they do not want to hire the local retired English teachers, they spend hundreds of millions to hire foreigners to teach those teachers.
3. And after years of dismal results, they decided to continue throwing good money after bad.

Wouldn't it be easier if they were to recruit people who are proficient in English and possess higher qualifications to be trained as teachers in the first place?

And where did these teachers studied in? The national schools.

Which brings us back to square one.

Isn't it obvious that they are going round in circles all these years?

What needs to be said has already been repeated enough through the years. Really, it seems that those in charge are not bothered to listen.

Sadly, we will never be able to find a permanent solution, like I have mentioned many times, everything is inter-related in Malaysia. We are only treating/hiding the symptoms because it is easy to do. The real cure, is too painful and I doubt it can be done.

Federal Hotel

The reality is that this country is an anomaly. Malaysia was "created" by grouping together various states comprising of various peoples & faiths, but based on shaky fundamentals. The only reason it has lasted this long is because of the wealth brought about by a strong economy which was brought about by the Chinese businessmen. Even at the time of independence, Malaysia did not have an international-class Hotel to host the delegates in Kuala Lumpur. The native Malays did not have the capabilities at that time. So, a Chinese businessman built the Federal Hotel.

Sometimes, I wonder, what would Malaya be like without the immigrants: the Sultans would probably hold more power. Or it could become a Republic like Indonesia. Maybe it would be like Brunei, whose Sultan was smart not to join the federation back then. Until today, the Sultan of Brunei is the absolute ruler of the country. Perhaps the Malays here would not share the same standard of living as the Bruneians but I doubt that the Malaysia would have prospered and developed as much either.

Anyway, back to education.

Begining this year, 2014, the PMR Form 3 exam will be replaced with PT3 school-based Assessment. Based on my understanding of the new assessment system, I have strong reservations. This type of system will only work when certain resources and conditions are in place.

1. Qualified & dedicated teachers
2. Class size of not more than 20 students per class.
3. School have proper resources and facilities.

Do we meet these conditions? The answer is no. 

In the past, the SRP (the predesessor to PMR) was used to stream students into Science or Arts streams in Form 4. For the Malays, it was, and still is, used to place the Malay students in Fully Residential Schools, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama, Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) including Sekolah Menengah Teknik (SMT) and Vocational Colleges.

So, with the abolishment of the PMR centralised exam, for non-Malay parents & students, it makes little difference because they will continue with Form 4 regardless. But I wonder what will happen if the students fail?

For the Malays, well, according to an Art teacher in Pahang, they are concerned that it will be abused by certain parents when they want to enrol their kids into one of the exclusive Malay schools.

In a country where there are 2 different higher education entrance exams based on race (STPM vs Matriculation), and the grading marks are classified as State Secrets, I suppose we should not expect too much. While our rankings in international assessments such TIMMS keep falling, the number of straight A's students keep increasing every year. How do you explain that?

I wonder if the parents out there still have faith in the current education system? Going by the mushrooming of International Schools or Private Schools in the country, it's evident.

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RM270 million spent on English yet no results

Anisah Shukry
 | March 24, 2014

The government has extended a contract for the English teachers' mentoring program in rural primary schools, even though it did not help English language UPSR results from sliding further last year.

kamalanathanKUALA LUMPUR: Despite the government paying RM270 million, a mentoring programme implemented since 2011 to improve English language teachers’ skills has had minimum impact on the quality of English among students and teachers alike.

The Dewan Rakyat was told today that the Program Penutur Jati Bahasa Inggeris (PPJBI), which hires foreign teachers to mentor local English language primary school teachers from rural areas, was unable to prevent last year’s UPSR results for the English subject plunging lower than ever.

However, the programme, which ran from 2011 to 2013, has since been extended from Oct 1, 2013 to Sept 30, 2015, at an additional cost of RM184.4 million, according to Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan.

He explained that the plan was aimed at yielding long term results.

“I don’t deny that there is a decrease (in UPSR results), but this is a long term plan. The 6,054 teachers in the programme were evaluated by their mentor based on the common European framework.

“The mentors found that the number of teachers categorised in the basic level (of English) had decreased, whereas the teachers categorised in the higher level had increased significantly,” Kamalanathan told the House during the question session this morning.

According to Kamalanathan, the percentage of teachers categorised in the lower band levels for writing skills had decreased by 7.8%, while the number of teachers who were in the higher levels had increased by 8.7%.

The teachers’ improvement in terms of reading were also similar: teachers categorised in the lower band levels had reduced by 9.92%, while those categorised in higher band levels had increased by 12.67%.

“The teachers have also shown an increase in listening and speaking. In [the lower bands], the number of teachers have reduced by 8.07%, whereas those in [higher bands] have increased by 6.73%,” said Kamalanathan.

RM21,000 per mentor

Zairil Khir Johari (DAP-Bukit Bendera) had earlier pointed out that the RM270 million allocated for the programme from between 2011 to 2013 equated to the government spending RM21,000 on a single mentor.

It involved hiring 360 mentors from three different companies: The British Council Malaysia, the British Education Group and SMR HR Group.

“This program has been going on since 2011, and now it has been extended… what is the rationale for extending this programme considering that last year’s UPSR results have shown worse results? It doesn’t look proportionate to the cost,” stressed Zairil.

But Kamalanathan stressed the programme helped expose teachers from rural schools to new concepts and theories, and had received positive feedback from the participants.

“They said when they apply their new knowledge obtained from the programme, they are able to fulfill the teaching and learning objectives in the English classes with no obstacles.

“This programme involves the participation of all English language teachers from standard one, two and three in 1800 schools,” he added.

- http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/03/24/rm270-million-spent-on-english-yet-no-results/

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PT3 replaces PMR, says Muhyiddin 

• Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) or Lower Secondary Assessment examination would be replaced with Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3) or Form 3 Assessment, beginning this year.

• "PT3 replaces PMR. There is some form of assessment at the school level. The PT3 will be used as the basis to determine the entry of students into Form 4 whether in Fully Residential Schools, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama, Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) including Sekolah Menengah Teknik (SMT) and Vocational Colleges.

- http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/03/18/Muhyiddin-PT3-PMR/

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New Form 3 exam system open to bias, abuse, says education activist

The new exam system that will replace the PMR for Form Three students this year is open to bias and abuse, and could jeopardise the future of children from poorer families, said an education activist today.

Mohd Noor Izzat Mohd Johari (pic) said that unlike the old system, where the Form Three exam is produced and graded by an independent body outside the school, the new one, PT3 or Form Three Assessment, will be done by the teachers of each individual schools.

Since PT3 results are used by students to apply to elite schools such as residential schools and the MARA junior science colleges, richer, more well off parents could pressure teachers into giving their children better grades.

"This is the situation that we are afraid will happen. When parents come to school and ask that teachers 'take care' of their kids," said Mohd Noor Izzat who teaches art at a secondary school in Pahang.

 - http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/new-form-3-exam-system-open-to-bias-abuse-says-education-activist

Balik China, India - Part Deux

What can I say. Racism is thick these days.

Hot on the heels of SMK Alam Megah Principal Pn Hjh Missyati Binti Dani, is an assistant principal of SMK Engku Husain in Semenyih. Seems to be a monthly trend. See my previous post last month.

Previous post: Balik China, Balik India

Ok. Apparently this time, the kids were told to "go back" for not singing the national anthem. Before anyone scream "Unpatriotic" or "Traitor" let's put things in perspective. These are school kids. Teens. During school assemblies, there are bound to be a group of naughty kids mucking around at the back. Even if these are really unruly kids, the remarks are still uncalled-for. Where did they train these teachers?

There are many ways to discipline a kid. Making racial insults is definitely not one of the most effective way however you try to justify of defend it.

There seems to be a lot of cases like this these days. These people take out their frustration and anger towards a particular community on the kids. I strongly suggest counseling.

This is the reason why I maintain that racism & bigotry starts with adults. But many still insist that we must close down vernacular schools for racial harmony, and force school kids from different races to mix. That is a flawed concept. It's the adults who are teaching racism to the kids.

Will this go away, or will it drag on like the Sri Pristina case? We shall see...

Principal: Abdul Ghafar Kunchi Mohd

Assistant principal under probe for "balik India, China" remark

PETALING JAYA: An assistant principal of a secondary school is being investigated for allegedly telling some students to "balik India, China."

Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan said the ministry was waiting for a report on the matter from officers handling the case.

"If indeed the allegations are true then the ministry will take appropriate action," he told The Star Online.

The teacher allegedly became angry after some students did not participate in singing the Negaraku during the weekly assembly at SMK Engku Husain in Semenyih, Kajang a few days ago.

School principal Abdul Ghafar Kunchi Mohd told The Star Online that the school had reported the matter to the ministry and the Selangor Education Department.

He said a meeting was held on Thursday over the matter with ministry representatives and the school's Parent-Teacher Association where both he and the assistant principal were present.

He declined to comment further saying that the matter was now in the ministry's hands.

PTA president Prof Datuk Ali Hasan lambasted teachers who felt it was acceptable to tell students to return to where their ancestors came from.

"In my opinion they need serious re-training to refresh their minds on acceptable teacher-student behaviour," he said.

Ali said that teachers and educators who were found to racialise education should remember their roles in guiding children.

"The spirit of bangsa Malaysia should be inculcated in them, so they will extend it to their students instead of dividing issues racially."

He said that educators who caused racial issues should be dealt with, regardless of position.

The incident comes shortly after several racially-toned incidents involving schools, including a case in August when a Shah Alam school principal was made to apologise to students for telling them to "go back to India, China or Indonesia".

Another case was that of SK Seri Pristana, where headmaster Mohd Nasir Mohd Noor was accused of being racist after non-Muslim students were found eating their meals in a changing room during the Ramadan month.

- Source

Vernacular Schools = Polarisation?

 

A bigot's views.

It seems that a certain group of misguided people have found a new passion in life, which is whacking vernacular education. They are obsessed with Chinese & Tamil Schools. You can sense their deep hatred with anything that does not conform to their narrow mindset. And one such person goes by the name of Narinder Singh, who works for FMT.

What's with these people and their fixation with vernacular schools anyway? They think they know better that the communities themselves? Do they think those parents who put their kids through vernacular education are stupid? Do these bigots  think that they are perfect role model citizens?

These people are perfect examples of bigots. And they are really starting to get on my nerves...

Below are excerpts from Narinder's article, blaming vernacular schools for, what else, the racial polarisation in Malaysia. Actually he whines and complains about pretty much everything, but hardly offers any solutions.

Race-based education policy and polarisation

by Narinder Singh
Full article here.

The fragmented education system has indeed “polarised” the minds of the different communities.

.... Racial schooling

"It is baffling that despite vernacular schools insisting that they adhere to national policies in delivering the education system, then why the need for such schools which revolve around a particular mother tongue?"....

If the writer is even "baffled" by the existence of vernacular schools, why on earth is the writer even writing about something he has zero understanding of? Did he ask his Chinese or Tamil friends? If he has any to begin with...

....It is time to abolish vernacular schools. Historically, they came into play as a by-product of settlements during the British Occupation. We stubbornly held on to it and what we have today is an in-direct culmination of racial sentiments in these establishments. Deny as much as we want, but the fact remains that when one is put thorough a homogeneous system, the outcome can only be biased and it is due to conditioning.

The same can be said for the his biased and ill-informed views. Don't you just love it when these people selectively quote history to justify their points? The British left behind more than just vernacular education. ..

Imagine a six-year-old being nourished for the next six to 11 years in a system where only one majority race exist. What do you expect if “racially inclined” thought process does not breed in the mind?

It is proven that the early formative years of education is the most vital and critical in carving the minds for future behaviour. In the same tone, why the issue of racial polarisation being heavily politicised by the opposition and even the government alike? ....

It is true that the formative years are important for a child. That is precisely the reason parents send them to vernacular schools at that age. The writer tries to be politically-correct by using "racially inclined" thought process, but it just highlights his hypocrisy. Just say what you mean, "racists". 

A racist will be a racist in any environment.

The fragmented education system has indeed “polarised” the minds of the different communities. This is the root problem in our society today. Every stakeholder shoves the blame on another for the racial discontent that we experience today. Nevertheless, they are nothing short of being hypocrites.

Take the bull by its horns if they indeed dare to look into the truth. The irony is at every change of guard at the education ministry, the game plan takes a twist.

Pot calling the kettle black. The root problem is people like you Narinder. People who cannot accept different cultures, races, languages. The real bigots are people like you, who tries so hard to hide these facts, and refuses to see the truth. They want everyone to live and believe in their make-believe world. They are living a lie.

...Racially-oriented education will only blossom into race-based polemics in all levels of our society. Almost every issue nauseously has been skewed on the lines of race. ...

What the heck is "racially-oriented education"??? You mean they actually teach kids to be racists in school??? There you go... the real reason for his discontent. Race again. And it is so convenient to blame vernacular schools because kids are easy targets. The writer doesn't even have the guts to be honest. You have a huge problem with race. That is your problem. Don't blame others, ok?

....Visit any tertiary education or even primary schools; you see groups of students socialising only with their own ethnic group. Having gone through the system, racial polarisation is indeed magnified multiple folds at tertiary level. We have race-based student societies, activities and even formal social gatherings.....

Again, blaming students, the helpless... why can't he just be honest. I suspect he doesn't go out much... My advice to him; come out of your cave once in a while, and take a stroll in the real world, go to the nearest restaurants for example, what do you see? Adults mingling with their own race. What about during festivals? People of the same race again! He would certainly find it a very disturbing sight. I'm sure after that he will be running back to his cave...

....We need a gigantic, herculean scale revamp of the education system. Racial polarisation will resolve only when we have a “Malaysian Education” and not race-based especially in the formative years of the young. It may take another generation when a citizen of this country identifies himself as a “true Malaysian.”

A dish goes wrong when either its ingredients are incorrect or you have a half-past-six cook or both. In our education system, we have the perfect blend of both being lousy.....

You know what they say about empty vessels. His obsession with the Malaysian identity shows that he doesn't relate to his own culture and identity. Hence his crisis.

At the end of his tirade, he has failed to even mention the core issue with education, which is the quality and standard. All he can see is just race, race, race... Race is his real issue. Vernacular education is his excuse.

My observation has shown me that when someone tries too hard to show they are not racists and bigots, they usually are. If you are not, you will not have any issues with other races, cultures or language to begin with. You will be quite comfortable with who you are, and who the other person is.  

Kids don't form prejudices in their formative years in schools. At that age, it can only happen at home. 

It is formed in their later years, teens and adulthood, when they face the realities of life.

In life, polarisation exists everywhere. You will meet bigots or racists from every race. It doesn't mean that you have to carry racial stereotyping through life.

This Narinder Singh comes across as a very confused person, perhaps even someone with an identity crisis. And there are many of his kind running loose in this country who considers themselves as "true Malaysians". True nut-cases would be more accurate.

SK Sri Pristina (Update) - Student ostracised

Student ostracised after mother’s exposé

August 5, 2013

The Year 3 girl is coming home in tears, refusing to return to SK Seri Pristana following her mother's exposure of the makeshift canteen in the school's changing room.

PETALING JAYA: The nine-year-old daughter of whistleblower Guneswari Kelly who first highlighted the makeshift canteen-in-a-changing room at SK Seri Pristana in Sungai Buloh is facing tremendous pressure in her school, forcing her parents to even consider transferring her to another school.

“This poor child is being victimised for what her mother exposed. She is being isolated by the teachers and even her classmates,” said a parent who is close to Guneswari.

The parent added that the ‘attacks’ on the Year 3 student started the very next day after the issue hit the national spotlight following wide media coverage.

“Her teacher blamed her in front of her classmates that it was her fault for the school to be in the limelight. The girl was very distraught and embarrassed by this finger-pointing.

“And then when the education authorities conducted an inquiry on the makeshift canteen, this girl was told that she was not required to take part in the fact-finding session.

“But it only got worse as even her friends started staying away from her. No one is speaking to this girl and she is very heartbroken by the whole incident,” said the parent.

The parent further said that Guneswari only found out about the problems her daughter faced when she saw her child taking pencils and highlighters from home to her school.

“When asked, she had told her mother that she wanted to give them to her classmates so that they become her friends again. But when the child came back from school on Thursday, she told her mother that she didn’t want to return to the school again,” said the parent.

FMT learnt that both Guneswari and her husband are now mulling the possibility of transferring their child away from the school.

“They feel their daughter needs a fresh start and that she can’t continue studying in the hostile condition. It is sad that teachers, who are supposed to educate our children, are behaving in such a manner,” added the parent.

Both Guneswari and her husband have decided not to speak to the media right now. However other parents close to them said they are waiting for the whole issue to cool off over this AidilFitri break before making any decisions.

HM refusing to meet parents

Another parent, meanwhile, lashed out at the school headmaster Mohamad Nasir Mohd Noor for refusing to meet them to discuss the way forward from this issue.

“We are still waiting for him to meet us and to move on. This issue can’t continue to linger. The school must stop blaming the non-Muslim students and turn this into a race issue,” said a father of a student in the school.

He added that there were also other incidents of teachers mocking non-Muslim students, intimidating them and ridiculing them for the makeshift canteen exposé.

“We (the parents of non-Muslim students) are waiting to see the HM as well as the Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) to solve this issue but to date, we have been given the silent treatment,” said the father.

He said that the PIBG was also making several misleading statements over the canteen issue, including saying now that the PIBG had discussed and agreed to have the makeshift canteen.

“This is not true as we have some parents who were in the said meeting and this matter was not discussed. This is one of the issues we want to raise at the meeting,” he said.

Apology from ministry

FMT could not reach the school HM or the PIBG chief for comment. All parents quoted in this story are unwilling to reveal their names for fear of their children being ostracised in the national school.

SK Seri Pristana had come under fire after Guneswari highlighted in her Facebook two weeks ago that it was using a changing room as a makeshift canteen, ostensibly due to some minor renovation work at the canteen.

Parents however said it was done to keep away the non-Muslim students from eating in the open.

Following a national uproar over the matter, the school and the Education Ministry apologised to the parents, with the school headmaster saying that he had set up the makeshift canteen as the school canteen was too small.

The ministry had then approved for the canteen to be renovated.

- Source

Well, this was sort of an expected outcome. I don't believe for a moment that the parents are that naive to think that things will be normal after all that has happened. Well, looks like the only option left is to change school and move on. Pity the kids though.

Balik China, Balik India

Even before the the last shower room controversy has time to cool down, we have another, fresh from the oven. Sometimes when it rains it really pours. You know what, perhaps there's actually a method to this chaos. Perhaps with higher frequency, the sooner the people will become accustomed to it... Don't you think so? hahaha. No. Just kidding!

The truth is racists exists in all races throughout the world.

These thoughts already exist in their minds, some more than others. And sometimes, in moments of heightened emotions, these bigoted thoughts are expressed. Unfortunately, it seems to be prevalent among people in authoritative or leadership positions.

Many a true word is often spoken in anger.

This incident is just another manifestation of the views of a certain group of society towards others. Seems to be the official view shared among them. Their feelings of resentment is real. I can accept that. But why take it out on the kids? Why didn't they say it directly to the parents instead? Are kids easier to be bullied?

What were these people thinking? To start them young? The parents have every right to be offended and angry. How do you expect the parents to explain to their kids? Might as well include it in the school syllabus.

But they keep getting the grammar wrong. Telling the kids to "balik" is incorrect since they were born here. Some have not even set foot in those countries. It should be "pindah ke China" or "berhijrah ke India"... "move to" or "migrate to". And why do they always assume that China & India would accept them? I mean, since these kids are attending national schools, they probably can't speak/write Hindi or Mandarin... right? :)


Why do these people, as normal citizens, feel so empowered to tell other races to get out from "their land", to insult other races in this country? And these are the same people who accuse those they insult for being racists.

As usual, the Headmistress has apologised. Apparently she's has only 6 months to go before her retirement... I don't really know what her motive was by saying that she also told the Malays to "Balik Indon'. Is it to show that she is fair? or is she trying to imply that the non-Malay parents were too sensitive, since the Malay parents did not complain?





I wonder what would happen if this took place in, let's say, the US?

NYC Principal Accused Of Making Racist Remarks, Calling Black Teachers 'Gorillas'

Of course, there will be those who will demand justice. And as usual, this storm will soon pass, but not forgotten, until the next time...

Pn Hjh Missyati Binti Dani

The racial issue surrounding SMK Alam Megah is finally broken from its shell as the Headmistress who is caught in the middle of this alleged case of racism has at last spoken. Earlier today, a group consisting of local politicians, NGO’s and parents held a closed door meeting with the Headmistress, Pn Hjh Missyati Binti Dani at the school in their effort to clarify the matter.The meeting which lasted for less than an hour produced a startling confession by the Headmistress on the allegation of racism against her as she admitted not only to have said’ “India balik India, Cina balik China” but also confessed that she actually did address the Malay students as well by saying, “Melayu balik Indon” in her racially spurred speech during the school’s Monday assembly last week.

Pn Hjh Missyati Binti Dani later told the meeting that she will issue an official apology for her ‘unintentional’ racial outburst to all students in the next school assembly scheduled to be held on Friday morning. She is also scheduled to have an explanatory meeting with the State Education Director later today.

A spokesperson from the concerned group of individuals who attended the meeting later revealed that the Headmistress also cited ‘momentarily outburst of anger’ as the reason for uttering such racially condemning speech during the school assembly last week. Fearing the consequence of a possible severe disciplinary action, she was also quoted as saying that she would appreciate the issue to be brought to a rest without further public exploitation as she only has less than six months left before her official retirement...

- Source

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Siti Inshah Mansor

2010

Punish ‘racist’ principal, not cover up, parents demand

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 — Denying that it was a “misunderstanding”, parents want the Education Ministry to take stern disciplinary action against the Johor school head accused of spouting racist slurs, claiming that it was not the first incident.

One parent even alleged the ministry was trying to “cover up” the case at SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra in Kulai.

“Parents are very unhappy that the authorities are citing misinformation and misunderstanding that the headmistress had made the remarks.

“It wasn’t a misunderstanding. Even the teachers have given their statement to the police. The teachers confirmed what has been reported by the students,” a parent told The Malaysian Insider, refuting Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom’s response yesterday that the case was just a misunderstanding and had been resolved.

“If it was, then why did the state Education Department tell her to make an open apology to the non-Malay students and teachers?” he asked, and related that principal Siti Inshah Mansor had been loudly booed by the student population in the attempt....

....... A copy of one report made last week and recently put up on the Malaysia-Today website listed several racist and derogatory remarks allegedly made by Siti Inshah, including likening Indian students wearing prayer threads on their person to dogs and ordering dissatisfied ethnic Chinese and Indian students to “return to China or India”.

Part of the lengthy police report lodged by a 16-year-old student alleged: “She gave the example of owning a Proton Saga with two passengers who are Munusamy and Chong. Munusamy and Chong were only passengers. They cannot claim any right to the car. This is the same as Malaysia in which the non-Malay students are passengers.”.....

- Source

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2010

Headmaster: Ungku Aznan bin Ungku Ismail

 ‘Racist’ Kedah principal apologises to parents

 KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 – The Kedah principal who had allegedly uttered racist remarks to 10 students at a school in Bukit Selambau near Sungai Petani last week has apologised to their parents.

Kedah Education Department director Shahidan Abdul Rahman said today that the apology was made when the principal met the parents on Sunday.

Shahidan also refuted reports made in a Chinese newspaper that the principal had been transferred following the incident.

“Investigations are still ongoing and the principal is still working at the school,” he said.

The principal had been accused of racism for allegedly telling her Chinese pupils to “return to China”.

The Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bukit Selambau head allegedly accused the Chinese pupils of being insensitive towards their Muslim peers by eating in the school compound during the fasting month of Ramadan last Friday, and ordered them to return to China if they could not respect the culture of other races.

Merbok MCA division secretary Chow Kok Leong, who received complaints from the parents, had claimed that the principal had also made similar remarks during the school’s morning assembly the next day.

There are about 80 non-Malay students at the school, which has an enrolment of 780.....

- Source

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2008

Rusitah bt Abu Hassan

Parents up in arms over teacher's racial slurs

Monday August 4, 2008 MYT 8:11:14 PM
BANTING: About 500 angry parents and other members of the Indian community gathered outside a secondary school here yesterday to stage a protest over racial slurs and abuse allegedly uttered by a teacher against Indian students recently.

The crowd began gathering outside SMK Telok Panglima Garang’s main entrance near here from noon and dispersed about two hours later.

The headmaster was on leave so some teachers accepted on his behalf copies of the police reports made by a Form Four student and a Form Five student.

The police reports also alleged that the teacher had beaten some students.

Coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs secretary Gunaraj George, who was among those who handed over the police reports, said that such abuse would only result in breeding hatred and racial polarisation in schools.

Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong said the teacher might be sacked if the allegations were proven true.

The allegations were serious as no one was allowed to insult others especially in school environment, said Dr Wee, who was asked to comment on the incident while visiting a nine-year-old accident victim at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru.

He added that the ministry was awaiting an official report.

- Source 

.....According to the police reports, the female history teacher had allegedly called Indian students in a Form Four and a Form Five class ‘keling pariah’, ‘Negro’, ‘black monkeys’ as well as other derogatory names.

The teacher had also purportedly said that ‘Indians came from dogs’ and the community members were stupid and prone to thuggery and thievery.

The police reports also alleged that the teacher had said that Indians were the ‘children of prostitutes’ and the community’s youths ‘did not have testicles’ on July 17 and 22, and had also purportedly beaten up some Indians students.

The Form Four student also alleged in his report that the teacher had written the word ‘keling pariah’ on the board and lost her cool when the Indian students in the class told her that they did not like being called names.....

- Source

Shower Room Meals - SK Seri Pristana

I suppose this school, SK Seri Pristana, is well-known by now. All it took was a post in facebook, and it has turned into a media storm overnight.

First, the people involved:

The Facebook post that started it.

The parent, Guneswari Kelly, who made that post.

She posted the pics of school kids having their recess break in the shower room. Apparently, she was brushed-off by the school staff when she raised her displeasure with them. 

The Headmaster: Mohamad Nasir Mohd Noor

The reason he gave was that there the canteen was closed for renovation works (which was later revealed to be a minor work involving the replacement of a door). Meanwhile, the students were told to use the shower room for their meals.

The improvised shower room.

According to the official explanation, this place has been in use since March because the canteen was too small to accommodate all the students.

The Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Learning II, P. Kamalanathan

The Deputy Minister visited the school and tried to diffuse the issue with the reasons above. The Headmaster and Minister have apologised. Unfortunately, not everyone buys the official story and  some quarters demand tough action to be taken against the Headmaster.

Well, I think this event has been over-sensationalised. It is understandable that most parents would react very emotionally when learn about news like this.

The real issue here is the poor choice of location. There is no doubt that the Headmaster made a bad decision. Going by the scores of reports online, I do think that the school tried to cover up their mistake, because the reasons given by them does not quite tally with the parents' version of events. Isn't it standard practice to inform all the parents if there are any special arrangements such as this beforehand?

 Anyway, the general perception is that of racial prejudice and discrimination. Nobody knows for sure if it is indeed true, except the Headmaster & the PTA. There's talk that the students were told to use that shower room for their recess break only recently, at the start of the fasting month. If it is true, then it is indeed insensitive. 

Where did these kids have their meals during the fasting months in the past 2 years?

Also I do not think it is fair to blame the parent who posted the pics for causing this predicament. She only posted it in her facebook and it went viral. It's the media and politicians that picked it up and turned it into this controversy. And if it is true that the school ignored the parents' complains earlier, then the school have themselves to blame too.

 Anyway, the Headmaster and even the Minister have already apologised early on... and the students can now use the canteen again...

Recess! their favourite time during school hours!

 
 However, it doesn't end there... Apparently, certain people, and certain politicians, do not want this to end...

Various groups support school headmaster

Several groups, including an Umno branch, threw their support behind the SK Seri Pristana school headmaster. 

SUNGAI BULOH: Four out of five banners put up on the fence at the front portion of the school show support for the SK Seri Pristana headmaster, Mohd Nasir Mohd Nor.

The most prominent banner is by the Taman Seri Pristana Umno branch. It has a photo of the teachers breaking fast in the same shower room used by the students.

On the banner is written:“Kami bersama SKSP” (we are with SKSP). The banner also says “ Cikgu Nasir… u r the bezzz!!!!”.

Another banner was from a Facebook support group.

It reads “Seluruh warga pendidik SK Seri Pristana…kami sentiasa bersama anda…teruskan mendidik anak bangsa” (To all the teachers of SK Seri Pristana… we are always with you… continue to educate our children).

Two other banners were from the Seri Pristana Youth’s Association and an online advertising firm respectively.

The banner by Sri Pristana Youth’s Association reads “Awas… Fitnah!!!… Tak Bertamadun… SK Seri Pristana = Mangsa” (Beware…Slander!!!. It’s uncivilised… SK Seri Pristana is the victim)

The banner by the advertising firm Letak.my stated “We fully support En. Mohd Nasir Mohd Nor, SKSP teachers and their staff. Gratitude teaches us to appreciate the rainbow and the storm”.

Nevertheless, there was one banner that warned the school administration on their actions, claiming that the school is being watched.

The banner read, “Berhati-hati dengan tindakan anda…anda diperhatikan” .....

...Meanwhile renovation work at the school canteen has started. Workers were seen working on the canteen area to expand the canteen size to accommodate all 1,300 students.


Source

DAP now wants action against Seri Pristana HM for allegedly intimidating students

The Ipoh Barat MP referred to media reports that said the headmaster had taken photographs of pupils whose parents had allegedly lodged complaints against him, saying this was unacceptable and warrants immediate action.

............The Ipoh Barat MP referred to media reports that said the headmaster had taken photographs of pupils whose parents had allegedly lodged complaints against him, saying this was unacceptable and warrants immediate action........

.............“In fact, five days ago, Guneswari Kelly, who had exposed the whole controversy revealed that her daughter was depressed as a result of being bullied by both her classmates and teachers since the photographs went viral,” Kula Segaran added.........

............According to media reports, mechanic Kumancan Veeriah, also a parent of a pupil there, said Nasir had gone to the school, while he was on leave last week, and had taken photographs of some non-Muslim students whom he suspected had leaked the news that they were told to have their meals in the school changing room, which is near the toilets........

Source

It has turned into a political circus...

There are many ways to solve problems. Does it always have to be confrontational? It takes two hands to clap... Usually, it's the innocent that will suffer... in this case, sadly, the kids. I think after this, there will be a high degree of uneasiness among the teachers, parents and kids in that school.

It was such a small issue.

1. Parents not agreeable to location.
2. Complain to school.
3. School change location. 
4. Problem solved.

This mess started at point no. 2.

So, what did we learn from this episode? 

The lesson learned is that not everyone likes to eat in the shower room. And if one decides to put other people's kids there, ask their parents first!

 :)