Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik.
JOHOR BARU: Schools should consider having twinning programmes to encourage students to mix with their peers from other schools, says Dr Maszlee Malik (pic).
Reiterating that students should widen their circle of friends in multiracial Malaysia, the Education Minister, however, lamented that the situation on the ground did not reflect that.
“Generally, most students mix only with their own race in school, and it is the same with making friends outside of school.
“I’m not sure why this is happening. Perhaps schools are too busy with other matters and do not see the importance of racial integration among students,” he told reporters during the 30th anniversary celebration of the Islamic private school Sekolah Rendah Islam Hidayah (SRIH) in Kampung Sinaran Baru, Kempas, here.
He took the opportunity to commend the board of governors of SRIH to initiate a twinning programme with SJK(C) Foon Yew 1.
Dr Maszlee noted that both schools were sister schools which had organised many joint activities, including student exchange and academic programmes, involving their pupils and teachers.
“I’ve requested the Johor Education Department to look at ways to extend the sister schools’ concept in the state before we expand it to other parts of the country,” he said.
He urged national schools, Chinese and Tamil vernacular and Islamic religious schools or tahfiz to organise activities and programmes to encourage students to get to know each other better.
On another matter, Dr Maszlee advised private tahfiz in the country to register with the relevant authorities as the majority of them did not have an operating licence.
He also proposed that the private tahfiz send their students to national schools, and teach them religious studies and memorising the Quran only after they complete their school session.
“We want students from private tahfiz to receive mainstream education and Islamic teachings at the same time,” he said.
Did you find this article insightful?
