From Moaz Nair
Instead of persistently blaming the government, the underprivileged Indians in the country who are in the lower cohort of the country’s economic hierarchy need more volunteers and social workers from among them to help change their relapsing mindset.
They need to be convinced to value education, to adopt a meaningful lifestyle and to avoid social delinquencies.
It is not always the government’s fault that many Indians are still among the poorest in this country. The community has to be sincere and reflect on why some of them have not progressed that well when a good proportion of people from other ethnic groups are doing well, some even without government assistance.
Even foreign labourers from some poor countries working in this country are thriving. It is hard work that pays off.
It may be true that many Indian children do not get parental support, and some slack in studies due to poverty. This is not peculiar to just one ethnic group in the country. It also happens in other communities.
Social leaders can play a vital role in identifying children whose studies are affected by poverty and seek government help.
It is also critical to counsel the parents to make them aware that poverty is not a stumbling block to education.
Parents need to seek a remedy if it is a self-inflicted problem, as a change in attitude towards life and valuing the importance of uplifting one’s economic status come with sheer awareness and the determination to work hard.
The poor Indians may have almost a dozen political parties and many NGOs to bring their plights to the government, but nothing will change if they themselves are not willing to change their fate.
Importance of education
Sadly, the awareness of the importance of education is not there among the poor and uninformed Indians.
For instance, many Indian parents do not know that many Tamil school pupils drop out after less than six years of education, and quite a significant number would leave school before completing five years of secondary education.
Many of these children find it hard to cope with lessons in Bahasa Malaysia and English at the secondary school level.
They do not speak nor understand the national language or English. At the end of the day, they quit school and find themselves worthless and jobless. Some turn delinquent.
Indian children have to be informed of the reality that in our education system they must complete their studies in secondary school. By attending national schools they would, from the start, also learn to mix with other races, become more exposed and also end up having a better social outlook in life.
The Indian community must accept the fact that there are enough national schools in the country to cater to the needs of all citizens. And most of these schools have better facilities compared with some of the vernacular schools in the rural setting.
Many Indian children have graduated from national schools and have achieved success in life, and at the same time they have retained their identity as Malaysian Indians.
The choice is now theirs. Never mind if there are no Tamil schools within their vicinity. If there is a national school, send their children to this school.
When there is already a national school in a rural setting, it would be wise for parents to consider sending their children to the school. Or even to any Chinese school in their vicinity.
National schools and Chinese schools are generally more well equipped with infrastructure and teaching facilities than many Tamil schools in the country.
Indian parents need to realise that education pays and being uneducated does not bode well for their children and the community. They need to be guided into becoming more proactive in encouraging their children to give importance to education.
Opportunities
Education will bring vast opportunities for these children. Just some proper basic education will pave the way for them to uplift their economic status.
For instance, they can start doing small businesses with the help of government agencies such as the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra).
Tekun Nasional has financial assistance and entrepreneurship programmes specifically for the Indian community under the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme (Spumi). The objective is to empower Indian entrepreneurs by providing access to loans and training.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) equips individuals with the practical skills and knowledge needed for specific trades, industries, or occupations.
It is seen as a crucial pathway for economic development and social advancement, and it opens the door to those with minimum academic qualifications but have not much passion for academic studies.
Notably, skills-based TVET graduates are generally assured of jobs.
A change of mind-set among the poor segment of the Indian community is fundamental for their offspring to enjoy a decent life in society, and if there is proper guidance and a sturdy will to change, this is not impossible in this country.
Moaz Nair is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.