Mandarin, Tamil lessons during school hours

Sonia Ramachandran and Chandra Devi Renganayar

KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry is looking at introducing Mandarin and Tamil classes during school hours in all primary schools nationwide.

The classes, to eventually replace Pupil’s Own Language (POL) periods which are conducted after school, were among moves to make national schools attractive to non-Malay students.

Last week, the New Sunday Times reported that some parents were steering clear of national schools for several reasons, including a lack of emphasis on Mandarin and Tamil; the lackadaisical attitude of teachers; Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction; and a perceived “Islamisation” of schools.

Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said Mandarin and Tamil classes would be offered even in schools in Malay-majority states such as Kelantan and Terengganu as a third language option for students.


Currently, said Alimuddin, there were 350 Mandarin and 170 Tamil classes in national primary schools, mostly in Selangor, Penang, Perak and Johor.

“We found not just Chinese students taking the Mandarin classes but Malays as well.”

These classes, he said, were different from POL as they were incorporated into the school timetable.

POL is only taught during weekends and outside school hours upon the request of parents, provided there are at least 15 pupils.

These Mandarin and Tamil classes were incorporated into the school’s timetable and conducted during school hours, except where there were difficulties in obtaining a teacher to teach the language, said Alimuddin.

"Only then are the classes held outside school hours or during the weekend. They are, for a start, conducted in schools with a racially-mixed student population."

On complaints from parents that only Muslim celebrations were being celebrated in schools, Alimuddin said: "That would depend on the school. For example, in schools where 50 per cent of the population are Chinese, then Chinese festivities would be celebrated there.

"National and vernacular schools also come together to celebrate the festivities under the Student Integration Programme for Unity, or Rimup."

He said the education system today was shaped by "social and economic issues".




"The system cannot satisfy the expectations of everyone. Yet the ministry has placed emphasis on, and will continue, strengthening national schools to provide quality education for all."

On the fears of some parents over the perceived "Islamisation" of schools, Alimuddin said: "There is no such thing. The doa (prayer) is not only practised in Islam. It is also in Christianity.

"It is just a prayer to bless the school and any activities carried out. Non-Muslims should not worry about this.

"Before independence, mission schools had chapels and morning prayers attended by Muslim students."

One of the thrusts in the Education Development Master Plan (2006-2010), he said, was to make national schools the school of choice for Malay-sians as well as strengthen racial integration.



On teachers, Alimuddin said efforts had been undertaken to improve the selection of trainee teachers as well as to elevate the teaching profession.

"The qualification of teachers has been raised to degree level. These are among some of the many strategies taken to improve and strengthen national schools."

Alimuddin said one could not deny there were teachers who were not up to the mark in terms of ability or attitude but they did not make the majority of the teachers.

"Many of those out there are good teachers who are committed and responsible.

"Lackadaisical attitude is an issue in all organisations, not only in schools."

On Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction, Alimuddin said: "As Malaysians, we have to accept that Bahasa Malaysia is the medium of instruction in schools as stipulated in the Education Act.

Bahasa Malaysia is the language of unity in our multi-cultural society, but it should not be at the expense of English. The ministry is continuously looking at all ways to improve the command of English among schoolchildren and teachers.
The aim of strengthening national schools is to assure people that they are where everyone shares common values and where diversity is celebrated in the spirit of 1Malaysia."