10 new Chinese schools nothing to shout about

YOURSAY | ‘The expansion, to cater to increasing population and demand, is a normal progression.’

New Chinese schools a major MCA breakthrough

Odin Tajué: MCA central committee member and religious harmony bureau chairperson Ti Lian Ker, if we assume that the 10 primary schools will in fact be built, the number and level (primary) are nothing to shout about vis-à-vis the existing Chinese schools in Malaysia.

Yes, I know. I have made a quick inquiry. Besides, the promise, which you would, one would imagine, hope will be kept, is nothing more than a move to win the votes of the Chinese.

The incidences of the Chinese having been physically slapped and beaten up and insulted have increased substantially over the last two or three years, but your lord and master has not even squeaked about it and never mind condemned the action and demanded that it continue no more.

But your party, which is supposed to look after the Chinese interest, has simply grinned and kept mum. The rest of the Chinese, on the other hand, are not exactly overjoyed.

Most of them, assuming they are intelligent as you all have boasted yourselves to be, will not vote for the BN, and hence the stale, mouldy crumbs thrown at you.

You might want to hope that they are at least real crumbs and not merely holographic images.

Dingy: Is MCA proud of RM50 million allocation to Chinese schools in Budget 2018? Even Tamil vernacular schools, agama and hafiz schools get RM50 million although the number of Chinese schools is much bigger.

On average, each Chinese school gets a much smaller sum considering that their number is close to 2,000.

Kingfisher: Ti Lian Ker is probably missing the forest for the trees in perhaps excitedly referring to the endowment of 10 primary schools as an MCA's success story for its continued loyalty to BN.

Some fundamental pointers are worthy of consideration. Tamil education in multiple primary schools over the last 100 years has proven a disastrous policy initiative, resulting in consigning many to low-wage employment.

Tamil, one of the oldest if not the oldest language and profound one at that, did not have any "economic value" in post-independent Malaysia.

Chinese education had a relatively more favourable position with select opportunities for middle-level secondary education and more importantly, it had economic value for employment opportunities considering that for some 70 years till perhaps the 90s, there prevailed a substantive Chinese-owned business operation.

The challenges are different in the last 25 years. A few primary and secondary schools shall not serve the masses.

National education policy as conceived in the Razak Report of late-50s/early-60s had a rational visionary format that could have been accommodated with sufficient emphasis on English, Chinese and Tamil with Bahasa Malaysia as the main common language.

The resulting clamour for linguistic particularism has rendered the nation weak in educational capacity and competence, some argue.

The Chinese and Indians in Malaysia, with claims to the "wonder" of ancient civilisations, have unwittingly diminished their development and integration here by an emphasis on particularism, it appears.

Anonymous 2251681440225523: Kingfisher, you are entitled to your opinion. You have underestimated the ability and competence of these vernacular-educated students.

It is naive to say that because of their vernacular background, their economic value has diminished. There are many professionals, entrepreneurs and self-made businessmen/women who had their early education in vernacular schools.

Language is something that can be learned and mastered. It is just a tool. Their development has not diminished in any way.

As for the case of integration, stop fooling yourself. You have heard and seen how non-Malay students are treated by the overwhelming Malay staff. National schools are run like agama schools. There is clear discrimination in all aspects of their school life.

Do you know the amount of ridicule and humiliation they undergo at this young age? Race and religion are part and parcel of the system and you are only talking about integration through national schools.

Can you deny the fact that government policies are a stumbling block in achieving integration? Talk is cheap. Face the reality. It is sincerity by all that can rectify the problem.

RM2.6 Billion Turkey Haram: As a Chinese, I am not at all amused by the sudden approval of so many Chinese schools. On the contrary, I felt insulted and angry by PM Najib Razak's generosity.

For years, the Chinese community has been asking for more Chinese schools, but only to fall on Najib's deaf ears.

Now, out of the blue, came the approval of so many schools at a time when his approval rating is very low, and a possibility of losing Putrajaya. My contention, is the Chinese votes so cheap?

Secondly, the reactions of MCA and Gerakan to the news bring shame to the community. They were so ecstatic on receiving the news, acting like beggars who were gifted with a few dollars from Najib.

Have they no pride left in them, feeling so happy picking up a few crumbs dropped from the table?

Anonymous: MCA is part of the ruling government for 60 years. Vernacular education is guaranteed in the Constitution. The expansion of Chinese schools, to cater to increasing population and demand, is a normal progression. What achievement is it to shout about?

Achievement is when the vernacular education and the examination results is truly accepted to gain entry into public university and employment in the government.

Organised another ceremony with the education minister to announce these, then I will say you did well, albeit 60 years late.

Anonymous_4031c: Indeed, 10 additional Chinese schools aren't going to make a difference to the declining standard of education in this country, which is in a dire need of reform.

Piecemeal measures to placate and please certain parties are short-term and populist in nature.

We need a complete shift and radical overhaul of the existing system of governance and its machinery to prepare this country for the challenges ahead, however bitter and difficult the immediate consequences may be.- Mkini