VERNACULAR schools are once again being used as a political hot potato with certain chauvinist types very loudly challenging the rights of these schools to even exist.
However, Malay parents who send their kids to SJK(C) Chi Sin in Batu Kikir, Bahau, Negri Sembilan very obviously feel otherwise. It was recently reported in the mainstream media that it is the only Malay-majority Chinese school in the country with 62 of its 66 pupils being Bumiputera.
In fact, the entire standard one intake this year comprised exclusively of Malay pupils.
Cultural integration forms the cornerstone of this school and celebrations like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, the mooncake festival and others are jointly celebrated with the parents.
Interestingly, teachers at the school have also adopted a special approach to teach the Malay pupils Mandarin which is not an easy language to master even to the Chinese themselves.
The news was also shared on news portal The Vibes’ X (formerly Twitter) page which has since generated more than 147,000 views at the time of writing.
All Malay Year One students in Chinese primary school https://t.co/hdpjafbvKw
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) March 20, 2024
Below is some of the reaction from netizens:
Some suggested that many Malay parents are waking up to the higher quality of education available in Chinese schools compared to schools offering the national curriculum.
Of course, many pointed out the obvious advantage for pupils to add a new language to their repertoire of skills.
One netizen sarcastically suggested turning the tables. He remarked perhaps the Chinese school should also implement a quota system limiting the number of non-Chinese that can study there.
Another said perhaps it is the national schools that need to be abolished, not the vernacular institutions.
Some said it is only the politicians who are stirring the hornet’s nest when Malay parents can see the benefits of sending their offspring to Chinese schools. The “not lying statistics” have shown an upsurge in the overall number of such pupils in vernacular schools, prompting some to question the scare-mongering among these politicians.
One netizen said this instance clearly shows that Chinese schools are not the cause of racism in the country as claimed by certain quarters.
A few voiced their concern at what they saw as a subtle “conquering” of Chinese schools.
One netizen observed that the pupil/teacher ratio was even better than most premium international schools!
The above scenario very clearly shows that more non-Chinese parents are waking up to the reality that national-type schools lag behind vernacular institutions in the quality of education being offered.
Perhaps this is the best way to counter the accusations of racism in Chinese schools – by getting more pupils from different ethnic backgrounds to share a classroom. – March 21, 2024
Main pic credit: SJKC Chi Sin, Batu Kikir, N.S. Facebook
