KJ: Fadhlina on right track to make national schools first choice for all

 

Khairy Jamaluddin has praised Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek on her stance that schools should not inconvenience non-Muslim students by arbitrarily closing canteens during Ramadan.

The former health minister said this contributes to efforts in making national schools the first choice for all parents regardless of race.

On his podcast yesterday, Khairy said past statistics indicate a trend where only an estimated 10 percent of Chinese parents send their children to national schools, with the rest choosing either private or national-type Chinese schools.

While the quality of education is one factor, racial discord also played a part, he added.

“One thing we keep hearing is that national schools are not very welcoming to them, as though there is this stereotype the national schools are ‘too Malay, too Islamic’, and such.

“Imagine those parents who are willing to send their children to national schools, who believe in the policy of integrating their children at a young age... but during Ramadan (are told) ‘Sorry canteen is closed, you have to sort out your own lunch’,” Khairy said.

Khairy Jamaluddin

The former Rembau MP added that not only would Non-Malay parents feel the impact but also their children, who would be very disoriented by the sudden change to their school routine during the fasting month.

As such, he said, in the spirit of making national schools the first choice for parents, Fadhlina's orders regarding canteens during Ramadan must be lauded.

Fadhlina had mandated that schools engage with parents first before making any decision to close canteens.

She said this must be the case even if only 10 percent of a school’s students are non-Muslim.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek

Previous blunders

In the past, there were several incidents of non-Muslim students being forced into uncomfortable situations during Ramadan.

In 2013, a primary school in Sungai Buloh forced non-Muslim students to eat in a shower room during the fasting month.

Later in 2015, a teacher at a school in Kedah allegedly told non-Muslim students to drink water in the washroom and to drink from the tap or their own urine if they did not have water. - Mkini