YOURSAY | Make national schools relevant again for all Malaysians

YOURSAY | ‘Make them the preferred choice for parents to send their kids for their education…’

Bersatu Youth chief wants vernacular schools abolished

Anonymous5637344: The only way out, if Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal is serious about abolishing vernacular schools, is to make national schools great again.

Make them the preferred choice for parents to send their kids for their education, which was the case many decades ago.

My parents were both Chinese-educated. In fact, my mother was a teacher at a Chinese primary school. But instead of sending me to a Chinese school, they opted to send my sisters and me to national schools.

Why? Because they believed that we could get a better education because the medium of instruction then was English/Bahasa Malaysia, and the teachers there were better trained.

But the situation has since changed. With creeping Islamisation and the perceived fall in education standards, especially science and maths, vernacular schools are now the schools of choice for many parents.

It’s time to turn that around. That requires making major policy changes in our national schools. But do our Malay-first PM and his colleagues have the political will to do that?

Malaysian Bulldog: Wan Fayhsal should think about the quality of national schools before he starts talking about abolishing anything.

The days when there were good teachers seem to be well planted in the past and parents want a good education for their children, not one where the teachers themselves need to be educated.

GreenPigeon2045: Vernacular schools are attended by all races. Not solely one race.

There is a choice. Do a study and ask parents and students why they chose to go to vernacular schools. You will find your answer.

Kunta Kinte: I agree with Wan Fayhsal. There should only be one education stream from primary to university.

Therefore, while you are closing all vernacular schools, close also all Islamic schools, international schools, Mara colleges and universities (because they use English as the medium of instruction).

Since you are closing all these schools and universities, make sure entrance is based on merit as everyone has no other choice.

VS: Is this the way to accept all of us as multiracial Malaysians - by removing vernacular schools that also promote unity amongst all races and at the same time allow them to learn their mother tongue?

We now have Malays in these schools because some of these schools are far better than the government schools in performance and discipline. The standard of English is also better.

Tomorrow these half-baked politicians will say all Malaysians, irrespective of their religious upbringing, should convert to one religion to be truly united.

Apanakdikato: Racial polarisation in Malaysia has nothing to do with vernacular schools. Don't use vernacular schools as a scapegoat for your failures.

The real cause of polarisation is race-based politics and policies. Take a look at Singapore. Race and religion are no longer election issues since decades ago, while these issues are still raging on here.

Justice Now: Another "wannabe" trying to make an issue out of thin air. The people who peddle race and religion, and dividing the nation are the ones creating issues that do not exist.

The vernacular school system has never caused any racial sentiments. It is the political parties who use racial sentiments to garner support that they don't have that is causing the problem.

Rengit BP: This man is full of nonsense. There are many who came from vernacular schools serving in the armed forces, police and immigration with passion for the country.

It is not the schools; it is the behaviour exhibited by leaders of the country. If leaders do not befit the values that this country was founded upon, what do you expect of the population?

IndigoSwan6963: Indeed, it is not schools that do not project nationalistic values but the lopsided policies of the government. Race-based politics, politics along religious and racial lines must be stopped.

Anonymous 79: Malaysian can be united if there are no people like Wan Fayhsal. Maybe he has never been to a vernacular school.

There are many children of different races studying there. They look very happy and are friendly towards each other.

Malaysians are divided because of politicians like him. If no one is like Wan Fayhsal, Malaysians can surely progress.

One Hand Cover The Sky: When a ruling government practises unfair policies, how do you expect to achieve unity among its citizens?

This deputy minister should look in the mirror before talking. Do not pretend to not be aware of what is the actual problem facing this country.

BrownFalcon4984: The Chinese and Indians need to take note that the prime minister’s party wants to close vernacular schools.

All parents with school-going children should take a stand not to vote for Perikatan Nasional (PN). Please, can MCA and MIC, plus GPS MPs make a stand and pull out of PN?

Aida: Indeed, the obstacle to unity among races has nothing to do with vernacular schools. It's the politicians.

If you stop the race-baiting then maybe there can be a modicum of chance for some form of integration.

And nothing is going to change unless you give an "overall maintenance" to the national education system.

Jaycee: Stop the hypocrisy. There is no unity as long as there are race-based policies. - Mkini