Education horror stories retold at protest

‘My daughter’s school in SMK Bukit Jalil does not know even know whether the exams will be in Bahasa or English or bilingual this year’

‘My friend would be here to protest if his daughter did not come home crying yesterday. She was targeted just because her father spoke up for her’.

These were just a few examples of the many horror stories that were shared by parents who gathered at the Taman Jaya this morning. They were there to protest and call for education reforms in the country.

The protest, called the Parents Gathering in Protest(PGIP4114), saw a mixed crowd of some 50 parents and their children as well as other supporters at the scenic park opposite Amcorp Mall.

However, the organisers-- including ASPIRES(Association of Parents and Individuals towards Revising the Education System), PAGE(Parents Action Group for Education Malaysia), MAGPIE(Malacca Action Group for Parents in Education) and other supporters,-- claimed they represented the voice many silent and frustrated parents.

“The crowd here may not be many, as others are afraid, but there are many who are with us and want to see a better future for our young, our education and ultimately our future,” said APIRES founder Shamsuddin Hamid.

PAGE chairperson Datin Noor Azimah Rahim said that the only way that the ‘rot’ in the education can be fixed is if parents themselves overcome their fear and stand up for their children.

“It is this time of the year we are held ransom by the principals of our schools, the government, and until parents come up to take a stand. They will forever feel that they need not be accountable to us, that is why our education in deteriorating,” said Noor Azimah.

Noor Azimah said that there were believed to be a number of schools that are either confused or are misleading parents in regards to the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English(PPSMI), which is currently being replaced by the MBMMBI(upholding the Malay language and strengthening of English).

“There are schools that tell students that all will be in Malay and there are those told that books are not

enough. All these are lies. They cannot go against the Ministry’s own circular in Nov 2011 which says that there is still the option for the last batch to finish PPMSI in 2020,” she said.

MAGPIE chairman Mak Chee Kin said that the government’s ‘soft-landing’ for the policy switch has become a “shock landing” instead.

“Don’t you feel betrayed and cheated by the Education Ministry(MOE)? We have been played out. They say one thing and do another,” he said.

Mak also said:” They say our education is the best, and the PBS (Pentaksiran Berasaskan Sekolah) is the best, but how many of our policy makers send their sons and daughters to local schools and universities?”

“If they really do, then… it is not right for us to gather anymore right? We’ll just accept that we are both stupid. But if we have proof that they themselves don’t believe it in, we need a bigger gathering to make them walk the talk,” he said.

The gathering, which saw several representatives from various states including Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, Perak speak, was peaceful and there were no uniformed police present despite earlier warnings that the gathering may be ‘unlawful’.

A former PPSMI student, Sean Ong, now in university studying Maths and Economics, also spoke at the gathering, saying that he benefitted from learning maths in English.

“Yes, we can’t deny that there are those who suffer and don’t do well, but there are also those who really benefitted from learning in English. I am one of those. Give us the option, that’s the only fair thing to do.”

Among the main demands of the protesters are:

- Reinstating the PPSMI as an indefinitely option for students

- Not have a politician head the MOE, instead an educationist or academician

- Restoring Sekolah Kebangsaan as a first choice for parents

- Address the two parallel systems currently run by both MOE and the Ministry of Rural Development