Press Digest - Jiao Zong voices concerns over Education Ministry's online survey

PETALING JAYA: Alarmed by the sensitive nature of two of the 15 questions in the Education Ministry’s online survey, United Chinese School Teachers Assoc­iation of Malaysia (Jiao Zong) urged those who care about Chinese education to response to the questionnaire to reflect the Chinese community’s views.
Jiao Zong is worried that the survey, “Five-year Roadmap for Unity in Education”, could be used to formulate policies that will erode the characteristics of national-type Chinese primary schools, Sin Chew Daily reported today.
The survey, which was posted on the ministry’s website on Aug 22, aims to gather public opinions to be used to shape policies on unity in schools over the next five years. Its closing date is Sept 16.
Jiao Zong noted the survey could impact negatively on Chinese primary schools, particularly questions No. 5 (In your opinion, will introducing a policy for greater racial diversity of teaching staff in schools lead to better unity among children in schools?) and No. 12 (If Bahasa Malaysia is made compulsory as the language of communication/interaction among students in all schools, would this policy help create a unified environment in schools?).
Jiao Zong secretary-general Chen Qing Shun said the main objective of the survey, which aims to come up with policies that promote unity, is good but he is worried that some of the suggestions in the survey, once become policies and implemented, would spell disaster for Chinese primary schools, more so if those who take part in the survey come from a single ethnic group.
As such, he urged Malaysians who care about Chinese education to respond to the survey.
Pointing out that some of the questions are illogical, Chen said they if they are taken into account in formulating “unity” policy, the use of mother-tongue language as the medium of instruction in vernacular schools will definitely be affected.
According to the Sin Chew report, Jiao Zong will meet Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon to voice its concern on the survey.