GEORGE TOWN: Schools should apply academic elements to the upcoming Palestine Solidarity Week to give students a better understanding of the real issues unfolding in Palestine, deputy youth and sports minister Adam Adli said.
His comments come amid criticism of the programme after students and teachers were seen in viral images carrying toy guns and dressing as militants in the lead up to the awareness week, announced by the government as part of its support for Palestine in its ongoing conflict with Israel.
Adam said it was also essential to impart moral values on students to prevent them from being influenced by inaccurate or misleading views.
“Students must understand that the Palestine issue is a global one, and they must be given the opportunity to review, research, write and explore content that describes the real situation so that they can better appreciate the meaning of solidarity and comradeship.
“They should also be given an accurate view of how much the world needs peace. It is the responsibility of educators to teach children about universal peace,” he told reporters after attending the Northern Zone PKR Youth Convention at Pen Mutiara, Batu Maung, here.
He was commenting on calls by 12 state assemblymen who wanted the education ministry to review its decision to hold Palestine Solidarity Week in public schools and learning institutions in the wake of the viral pictures.
The programme is scheduled to start tomorrow.
Adam, who is also PKR Youth chief, said the government’s initiative must be delivered carefully as some students were still not fully informed about the conflict.
“Schoolchildren are currently surrounded by people talking about the Palestine issue but what education have we given them?
“The concern is that if we do not give them the proper guidance, there will be parties that take advantage and try to sway their thinking,” he said, adding he was confident the education ministry had appropriate guidelines.
Prior to this, education minister Fadhlina Sidek clarified that the school programme that involved toy weapons was not in line with the government’s guidelines and would not be part of the awareness initiative. - FMT
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