Yesterday, Chief Secretary to the Government Ali Hamsa said he had no problem with Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor’s call to teachers, despite an existing prohibition on civil servants taking an active part in politics.
Speaking to FMT, STU president Jisin Nyuk said that as far as the union was concerned, it would abide by the education ministry’s circulars on the matter.
But he believes that teachers shouldn’t mix education with politics.
“Freedom of association means teachers can join political parties. And as civil servants, naturally, some are more inclined to support the government of the day.
“But teachers shouldn’t bring politics to school. Let politicians deal with politics; leave education to teachers. Focus on educating.”
National Parent-Teacher Association Consultative Council (PIBGN) president Mohamad Ali Hassan said politics should be kept out of schools.
“Tengku Adnan shouldn’t be campaigning for Umno membership within the school’s compound. It sets a precedent.
“Everybody has the right to be a member of any organisation and this includes political parties, but we want teachers to differentiate between their roles as party members and members of society. So, party ideology must be left out of the classroom.”
On Wednesday, videos of teachers and students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 14(1) in Putrajaya singing the Umno theme song and waving the party’s flags during an independence day event at the school drew sharp criticisms from some sections of the public.
They accused Tengku Adnan, who attended the ceremony, of turning the teachers and students into political tools.
Tengku Adnan, who gave away prizes to winners of the competition, in his speech urged teachers to join Umno.
Last March 26, Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid advised teachers who supported the opposition or criticised the government to quit the profession.
He said although such teachers were exercising their democratic rights, they were breaching their service regulations by criticising the government.