A newly set-up taskforce has vowed to sue Tamil schools that are implementing the Dual Language Programme (DLP) as it claims the programme is “illegal and unconstitutional”.
Calling itself “Tamil Enggal Uyir” (Tamil is Our Soul), the taskforce contends that the programme violates the constitutionally-protected right to have Tamil as the medium-of-instruction at schools, said its coordinator K Arumugam.
“The Federal Constitution makes it an obligation of the government to provide Tamil as the medium of instruction at primary schools. The Education Act 1996 also states that Tamil schools must use Tamil as the medium of instruction.
“You should not change (the medium of instruction of) two major subjects - Mathematics and Science - from Tamil to English... or else the character of Tamil schools will become English-medium schools.
“Thus, the DLP is illegal and unconstitutional.
“Our objective is to take all Tamil schools which are going to implement the DLP to court... and subject them to judicial review and challenge the constitutionality (of their actions),” he said at a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.
Arumugam (centre in photo) explained that his group chose to take the schools to task rather than the Education Ministry because it was the schools themselves that decided if they will implement DLP.
Tamil-language primary schools presently teach eight core subjects namely Tamil, Bahasa Malaysia, English, Science, Mathematics, Local Studies (Kajian Tempatan), Civics and Citizenship education and either Moral education or Islamic education.
Teaching Science and Mathematics in English means four core subjects will be taught in Tamil.
Use other ways to improve English
Meanwhile, the group rejected the government’s oft-used rationale that the DLP was offered to schools as a response to parents’ demands and said other methods should be used to increase students’ command of English.
“How can parents have a say in government-run (education) system?
“The DLP promotes elitism and segregation... and a class system within classrooms where classes are divided into DLP and non-DLP. This contravenes the philosophy that all should have equal opportunity to obtain a quality education.
“We support efforts to increase the standard of English but not by switching the medium of instruction to English,” added Arumugam.
The taskforce will next send caution letters to all targeted Tamil schools before the end of January before commencing the lawsuits in March. A total of 44 Tamil schools have been identified so far but the group is awaiting an updated list from the Education Ministry.
Several members of the 15-member taskforce previously obtained a stay from the Kuala Lumpur High Court barring SJK(T) Vivekananda in Petaling Jaya from carrying out the DLP. The case will next be heard on Feb 27.
The DLP was one of the eight strategies proposed by the government in 2015 in its “Policy to Uphold Bahasa Malaysia and Strengthen the English Language” (MBMMBI). The programme was also announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in his Budget 2016 speech.
As of 2017, a total of 1,429 schools have implemented the DLP.- Mkini
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