Mission, religious schools also in jeopardy if legal action taken against vernacular schools, says social activist

MELAKA: The existence of mission and religious schools in the country will also be in jeopardy if any legal action is taken against vernacular schools, says a social activist here.

Melaka Consumer and Environment Association (PPASM) education and women’s bureau chief Azizah Harun (pic) said any parties objecting to Chinese and Tamil schools should also take into account the content of Article 152 of the Federal Constitution.

“In Article 152 part (a) and (b), it notes that there is no prohibition or prevention from the teaching or learning of any other language, including the provision of federal and state funds for this.

“It means that someone challenging the existence of vernacular schools is also threatening the positions of mission and religious schools, ” she said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 18).

Azizah said the Federal Constitution makes it clear that while the Bahasa Melayu is the national language, there are no objections to community languages, including that used by natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

“This explicitly shows that other languages are not prohibited from being taught, while those challenging the existence of vernacular schools should also bear in mind that the first Tamil school in the country was opened in 1816 while the fist Chinese school was in 1819, ” she said.

Hence, she said vernacular schools are part of our national heritage and had existed even before Merdeka.

“Our association will also work with the various non-governmental organisations to seek legal redress to protect the rights of vernacular schools to exist, ” she added.