Little did Twitter user Anne Louis imagine that her tweet would generate a storm and a furious reaction from parents and ordinary Malaysians.
While the contents of her tweet on an SPM workshop had infuriated many people, what appears to have been overlooked and lost in the accompanying anger and mud slinging are five things.
- Why are Malay students performing poorly in some subjects? Is there a particular explanation for this? The education department and headmaster should get to the root of the problem and not just treat the symptom.
- Why was the workshop held in a hotel and not in the school?
- Why solicit donations from parents and others to fund this workshop? What happens to parents who do not have spare cash?
- How true are the allegations that workshops of this nature, meaning those held for Malay students only, have been a regular feature for at least 40 years?
- The tick box culture of the headmaster and the state education department must stop. They should address the real reasons for the poor performance of the Malay students.
Anne had found out that an SPM workshop, held over two days and one night at a hotel in Johor, ostensibly to cover Islamic studies, catered only to Muslim students.
The students were from the Convent of the Infant Jesus in Johor. Further enquiries revealed that Chemistry and Additional Mathematics had also been taught.
Many parents reacted by saying their children had not been approached to attend the workshop. Instead of pacifying them, the excuses given appeared contradictory and did not help to reassure the parents.
It was alleged that the workshop was to assist about 40 Malay students whom the school feared would not do well in the SPM examination. The headmaster said failure by these students would affect the position of the school in the league tables.
Isn’t this the wrong approach to adopt? The school is not thinking about the children’s performance, but only thinking about its reputation. Moreover, it feared that the poor performance would be blamed on the headmaster.
This part, at least, is correct. The headmaster should be held responsible for the school’s under-achievement. However, both he and the school seemed to forget that this sorry episode was not about him.
The students are the main consideration and it would be judicious to find out why some are underperforming in these subjects. Are they unable to catch up because the subject matter is too difficult? Is it the teachers’ fault because of poor delivery? Have enough hours been dedicated to these particular subjects or have they been rushed through the term-time?
The headmaster may have denied racism being a factor in holding the workshop, but the manner in which it was held is itself suspicious. The school and the headmaster only have themselves to blame if that is what the public suspects.
If this workshop was not just for Muslim students, why was it necessary to collect donations from parents and other individuals? Was this a workshop sponsored by a private company? Isn’t this a government school and isn’t education available for all students?
Does this mean that additional tuition is only available to those with money? This is in itself discriminatory as education will be seen to be the preserve of those who can afford it.
Why was it necessary to hold the workshop at a hotel and not in school? If extra help was being offered to students, why spend money on a hotel venue instead of keeping costs down and holding the workshop in the school?
If it was sponsored by a private company, how was it chosen? Was it asked to submit its proposal and costing?
The claim that similar workshops have taken place in schools, colleges and universities for more than 40 years is serious. A section of the community is offered extra lessons before an examination, but others are not eligible to attend. In some cases, it is alleged that exam questions, and how to answer them, had been given.
Isn’t this tantamount to cheating? Moreover, classes for Malays only will only breed resentment and further divide the school and the community.
This discriminatory practice must stop, but for the moment, education minister Fadhlina Sidek appears to be helpless and unable to stem the tide of institutionalised racism which has taken hold in our schools.
Fadhlina can make a difference and at least put into practice the Madani Malaysia concept which Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has promoted.
Will she be courageous enough to face off the bigots in the ministry and education department who, for decades, were allowed to have their own way?
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.