Since independence, the problem of education has never been properly settled even after fifty years of freedom. There have been changes and changes and changes (all to no avail) to satisfy the multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural people of Malaysia.

The bone of contention among the various ethnic and racial groupings, it appears, is the language of instruction to be used in our educational institutions. From the outset of this letter, it must be remembered that language is emotive and must never be treated lightly in a diverse population such as ours.

It is nonsense to say that any one language is superior to another and therefore must be used at the expense of all other languages. This is what Barisan Nasional has done and it has not got into their heads that they have failed.

They are not able to view the question objectively without any emotional attachment to the subject. The failure to address this problem all these many years has resulted in unsatisfactory education at all levels of our educational system. Standards have been compromised and the staffing of schools, colleges and universities do not represent the multi-racial character of our nation.

Neither merit nor suitability are considered when appointing staff to the various educational institutions. A big factor in the rot of our educational system seems to be the obsession with race, religion and language coupled with the ‘Ketuanan Melayu concept'.

Let's backtrack to our pre-Independence days when Malaysia really had some of the finest schools in the British Empire outside of Britain and later in the Commonwealth of Nations. What happened after independence is a very sad story known only to octogenarians like this writer and those over fifty years of age.

The rest can only salivate and blink with awe when they hear stories of our ‘good old days' at school where each and every child had a ‘fair go' in education without any of the kind of baggage of race, religion and language implanted in their minds. Herein lies the problem in our education system at all levels from primary to tertiary.

Coming to the core of the problem of education standards, we have to ask ourselves whether we are satisfied with the level and quality of education our children are getting in our schools, colleges and universities. Obviously not. There are serious reservations over the existence of separate vernacular schools for the Chinese and Tamil populations of the country.

Not only do standards and quality differ, it is claimed that they are a hindrance to nation-building and thus the need for a single-school system where Bahasa will be the main language, if not the only language of instruction. Herein, lies the greatest hurdle for reform in our education system - whether Bahasa, English or any of the vernacular languages should be used as the medium of instruction.

Ignoring Bahasa, as it is the national language, will be sensitive and thus its suitability or otherwise vis-a-vis the other languages cannot be objectively discussed without fanning emotional outbursts from race-based politicians and racists who cannot differentiate between black and white when sensitive issues are raised.

The English language opened our doors to the outside world. Without the English language, Malaysia would not have made the progress it made till about the time of independence. However, when the English language had to take second place because of Merdeka and Bahasa Malaysia, the slide in education began.

It did not cause much difficulty in the beginning but after 1970, when the switch to Bahasa was completely made, then deterioration really set in. Three and a half decades later, we see that this policy had not been wise. Instead, we are looking at bringing back the English language to teach the core subjects of science and mathematics once again.

Countries all over the world are wanting their citizens to learn the English language. Can we afford to lose out because of our lack of knowledge of the English language? Surely not, unless we wish to bury our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich and believe that only Bahasa can enrich our lives and bring in prosperity.

So far it hasn't worked and that's why there are feeble cries from some Malay politicians, lest they be deemed traitors, asking the government to take another look at educational policies and make the necessary adjustments for a fast-changing world.

This doesn't mean that Bahasa must take second place. English must be made equal to it in importance as well as with Chinese and Tamil. In short, all these four languages must be treated equally as provided for in the federal constitution.

We cannot afford to have children coming out of our schools knowing only one language nor graduates from our universities who cannot communicate in the English language effectively. This is the crux of our problem where our education policies have not only been unsatisfactory but foolish as well

Having said all the above, we must now take a look at the number of our school-going children who are seeking an education abroad. There are no figures to indicate to which country our children are going for both schooling and tertiary-level education. However, we know that a very large number of our children are being sent abroad for studies as their parents are not satisfied with the present education system.

Living here in Johor Baru, this writer has observed that a large number of our students cross the causeway daily to attend school in Singapore. Busloads of children are ferried across as early as 5am while some children pillion ride on motor-cycles in order to get an education in Singapore. The figure could run into the thousands.

The authorities have not bothered to ask why this must be so and take the necessary steps to keep our young children here. Aren't our schools good enough? Why the craze for an education in another country? Surely, there must be something wrong with which the parents are not happy about.

Obviously, our education standards are unsatisfactory. Just as the ringgit has deteriorated to the level RM2.40 to the Singapore dollar, so has our education level plummeted whether we wish to admit it or not. Our premier university - the University of Malaya - the pride of our nation in education is ranked 240 in the international rankings of universities.

If that is the case, what can anyone say about the level of the other institutions of learning in the country? Our politicians must wake up and address this glaring rot in the education system that has gone on since the 70s.

It needs urgent attention without any politicking nor emotions attached to any language whatsoever, failing which there'll surely be a further drop and deterioration in standards in our schools, colleges and universities.

We must aim at international recognition for Malaysian certificates, diplomas and degrees. Only then can have pride in our education system whatever the medium of instruction.