Yee Tsai Yiew
KOTA KINABALU: Schools should always remain a neutral ground, said PBS Api-Api Information Chief Yee Tsai Yiew.
Reacting to a highly politicised event, dubbed the Palestine Solidarity Week in Malaysian schools, she said such activity should be approached with caution.
While expressing solidarity with oppressed peoples is an important and noble objective, she said such a programme should be evaluated whether it is suitable for children.
“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a complex issue with deeply rooted historical and political aspects, and introducing it into schools without a comprehensive and balanced approach could lead to division, misinformation, encourage extremism or radicalisation among students as well as causing potential diplomatic issues,“ she said in a statement today.
The Education Ministry (MoE) issued a circular recently calling for the implementation of Palestine Solidarity Week in schools and education institutions from October 29 to November 3, 2023.
Yiew said rather than promoting a specific political agenda, educational institutions should aim to foster critical thinking, open-mindedness and tolerance.
“It is essential for the Malaysian Government, specifically the MoE to carefully consider the potential consequences before proceeding with such an initiative in the education system,” she said.
Yiew said many parents who have come across the viral MoE circular have indicated to her their concerns about the suitability of organising such programmes in schools, and many of them do not want their children to be involved in such activity.
She said parents are against it because such programmes will divert valuable classroom time and resources away from essential subjects, potentially affecting the educational development of students.
Furthermore, Yiew believes that educational institutions should be places of unity and tolerance, and introducing contentious topics can disrupt the harmony that schools should aim to maintain as we live in a multiracial society with diverse religious beliefs.
“If the MoE insists on raising awareness among students, then a more appropriate theme such as ‘Stop Bully’, ‘No More Hunger’ or ‘Go Green’ are more age-appropriate issues for children.
“Instead of focusing on heavy issues, the Ministry should instead look closer to home and issues affecting the children, such as bullying among students, which is becoming more rampant of late. Teaching our children to be welcoming and tolerant with each other, about hardships and about green and sustainable initiative, I believe these are topics that children can easily relate to,” she added.
Yiew believes that it is crucial to strike a balance between raising awareness about global issues and ensuring that the message delivered does not lead to radicalisation or intolerance, especially among students.
“Whilst it is important to teach our children about what is happening around the world, we have to be careful in instilling hatred or incorrect moral values towards them,” Yiew said.
