Split over Chinese education issue

PETALING JAYA - The two key Chinese education groups are divided on how to fight for amendments to be made to the preliminary report on the National Education Blueprint 2013-2025.

While Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) believes a rally on Nov 25 would galvanise public support over its demands that long-standing issues regarding Chinese education be addressed, Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers Association) says it is not the right time to hold such a rally.

According to the Chinese press yesterday, Jiao Zong said in a statement on Saturday that it is taking an active part to get the government to amend the blueprint, including engaging the relevant authorities.

"As an organisation of the teaching profession, Jiao Zong has profound and in-depth knowledge in this field. As such, before the blueprint is finalised, the organisation will continue to engage the authorities to provide professional views," Jiao Zong said in the statement.

They believe this is a more effective and better way of influencing the government to implement an education blueprint that meets the demand for education in the pupils' own language.

However, Jiao Zong said despite the different approaches adopted by the two groups in raising their objections to some of the points in the blueprint, their common goal is for the government to implement an education blueprint that is fair to the development of the mother tongue languages of different ethnic groups.

"No matter what, Jiao Zong respects Dong Zong's decision to hold the rally," the statement said.

In Malacca, Hua Zong's (Federation of the Chinese Associations of Malaysia) central committee members unanimously agreed on Saturday that the federation shall not take part in the rally.

Hua Zong president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah pointed out that Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister, has indicated that he hoped to meet representatives from the Chinese community on education issues.

"While we await the response from the deputy prime minister, we have decided not to take part in the rally," he said.

Meanwhile, Dong Zong deputy chief Chow Siew Hon said the "1125 Peaceful Assembly", to be held at Padang Timur in Petaling Jaya, will definitely go ahead.

He said history has shown that submitting memorandums alone, which the Chinese groups have already done, does not suffice.

-thesundaily