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What Is The Real Meaning Of Vision School And Later On Vision University? Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the controversiy about vision school since 1995. 15.8.2000 | |||||||
| There is racial and religious polarization in Malaysia. It may not be as bad as some countries. But it is not good. Since 1995, the Government has mooted the idea of vision school, having schools of Malay (national), Chinese and Tamil (national-type) streams to share common facilities. Virtually all universities have common facilities for students of various races and religions. Two examples of vision schools have been quoted, one in Lurah Belut, Bentong, Pahang, and the other in Kota Tinggi, Johore. Apparently, in Lurah Belut, the three types of schools happen to be neighbours. The one in Kota Tinggi has been seen as changing the character of Chinese and Tamil schools. Controversy rages. Recently, the Malaysian Cabinet has decided to implement the concept of vison school to bring about racial understanding and harmony among Malaysians of all races from an early age. Chinese educationists like Dong Jiao Zhong object to the concept as contained in the 1995 directives and as seen in Kota tinggi. Despite the repeated assurance of the Education Minister Tan Sri Musa Mohammad, he has yet to meet Dong Jiao Zhong to expound his belief and the reality during and after implementation. It seems that yesterday MCA President Dato' Seri Ling Leong Sik has arrived at an agreement with Dong Jiao Zhong on the concept: the character of various schools will not change, learning from one another and and promoting relationships among pupils of various races. It is reported that the Government is working out new directives for vision school. How different will these be from those of 1995? How will over 8,000 schools be merged? There are many problems in schools such as shortage of classrooms, teachers and equipment as well as outdated system. When will we be able to have eoungh teachers with the vision? When will the teacher: student ratio be reduced | |
to manageable level? It is not uncommon to find a class with over 50 pupils. Apart from the lack of contact of students of various races in schools, the universities show polarization even clearer. A university has one campus with facilities for all students. The Education Minister was Vice-Chancellor of the Universiti Sains Malaysia, USM. How has he perceived the state of racial and religious relationship in all the universities? What is stopping all the students from promoting understanding and relationship? Can the Education Minister look at all the educational institutions and tell us how many of them have fallen into his idea of vision school? I have raised many questions on racial and religious polarization. For example, I have mentioned the Malaysian Student Department and Malaysia Hall in London. In what way has these institutions tried to inculcate racial understanding and tolerance? To what extent have the students interact? Only when there is racial and religious tolerance will Malaysia be able to survive forever. The intense competition of politics may not necessarily b conducive to the promotion of tolerance. One mention of the Malay special rights, and we we see the furore. People always talk about level playing ground. We hope that they truely believe in narrowing the gap between the haves and the havenots and that they do not use this as an excuse for personal gains. Eventually, all positive discriminations will have to give way to merits and needs irrespective of race, colour and creed. What type of policy will the Government have after 30 years of the New Economic Policy? We hope that the Education Ministry will work out the real meaning of vision school and, later on, vision university with the implications and consequences of its implementation. Will vision school be without party political interference?
Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
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