Moves to boost non-Malay enrolment in Tabika Perpaduan

 Chinese and Indian children make up only 1.3% and 5.6% respectively of those in the government-sponsored preschools.

The government-sponsored Tabika Perpaduan kindergartens are open to all children, said the director-general of national unity and integration department. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 The national unity and integration department is working closely with the education ministry to think of ways to increase the number of non-Malay children enrolled in “Tabika Perpaduan” preschools.

The department’s director-general, Che Roslan Che Daud, said enrolment in these preschools remained overwhelmingly Malay, making up 26,835 of the total 34,889 pupils, or 77%, as of February.

Chinese and Indian children make up only 1.3% and 5.6% respectively, while children of other ethnicities make up the rest.

Roslan said his department is planning to hold outreach programmes and awareness campaigns to boost non-Malay enrolment and ensure a more balanced makeup in these preschools, Bernama reported.

He said they also plan to integrate the department’s unity-focused module in other kindergartens registered with the government.

“We believe that the best way to foster unity among Malaysians is to start young, which is why we’re urging all communities to be part of this effort,” he was quoted as saying.

Roslan said some non-Malay parents may have misconceptions about Tabika Perpaduan preschools, and assumed that the preschools were meant only for Malay children.

“That’s not true. The word ‘perpaduan’ (unity) itself reflects inclusivity. It is open to all and we want to correct this misunderstanding.”

First introduced in 1976 under Putrajaya’s community relations plan, there are currently 1,781 Tabika Perpaduan preschools across the country. - FMT