National Economic Action Council member Rafidah Aziz has disagreed with the implementation of khat writing in the Year Four Bahasa Malaysia syllabus, saying one cannot be “forced” to learn calligraphy.
Speaking at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya today, the former cabinet minister said she had even sent Education Minister Maszlee Malik a text message on her objections.
"When you force everyone to do calligraphy, I would be the first one to fail (calligraphy). I challenge you, you will fail calligraphy.
"Artistic right, like anything else, is a talent. We don't need that kind of talent to be incorporated as a must-do part of our curriculum in schools.
"[...]I just texted Maszlee to say, is it not better not to do it as a subject?" said the vocal former international trade and industry minister.
The Education Ministry had last month explained it would proceed with the introduction of khat writing in schools, stating that up to six-pages would be included in the national and vernacular school Bahasa Malaysia subject.
It, however, had repeatedly assured that students would not be assessed nor tested on it in examinations.
Instead, it emphasised that the move was to foster an appreciation for beautiful writing and was not about learning the Jawi script, which is the traditional form of writing for Bahasa Malaysia, which has been romanised.
Even so, the move raised objections from DAP grassroots as well as Chinese and Tamil education groups which questioned the government’s motivation in introducing Jawi script in vernacular schools.
According to Rafidah further, it is better to learn a language than calligraphy.
"The education system is overloaded by all kinds of nonsense," she said today.
"Don't overload (the education system) with unnecessary, frivolous subjects."
[More to follow] - Mkini
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