Chong: Malay Mandarin teachers not a threat

KUALA LUMPUR: The fact that non-Chinese teachers are now able to converse fluently in Mandarin is not a threat to Chinese schools, said Deputy Education Mi­­nis­­ter Datuk Chong Sin Woon (pic).

In dismissing false claims over social media, Chong said that teachers who were sent to Beijing to train in Mandarin are solely for the purpose of teaching Chinese classes in national schools.

“These Malay teachers will not be sent to Chinese schools to teach,” he said, adding that the ministry would not allow Chinese schools to be affected.

Chong was responding to a viral message and video which claimed the Education Ministry was sending non-Chinese tea­chers to learn Man­darin to eliminate Chinese schools.

The video showed a group of Malay teachers – who are believed to be from Universiti Teknologi Mara – speaking fluent Mandarin in a debate-like setting.

A false caption in the video stated that these teachers would soon flood Chinese schools when they return to Malaysia by replacing Chinese teachers and at the same time “wipe out” Chinese schools.

“The viral message also claimed these teachers will be the future headmasters of Chinese schools because they are more than qualified compared to locally-trained Chinese teachers,” Chong said.

He urged the public to be cautious about such news which he said was “very misleading” and caused unnecessary panic.

On another matter, Chong said the ministry along with 13 Chinese education associations including United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), Federation of Chinese Asso­cia­tions (Hua Zong), and Dong Jiao Zong, are rolling out activities to boost the quality of education in Chinese schools.

He said the activities include workshops to help teachers better prepare material ahead of lessons, a campaign for parents to rid the exam-oriented mindset and a programme to inculcate the reading culture among students.