I refer to numerous letters in Malaysiakini regarding the future of Tamil schools in this country. As an MP and an Indian Malaysian, I wish to state the following:

Tamil schools in Malaysia were established more then 100 years ago and have provided elementary education for Tamils for more then five generations.

Although Tamil schools were established by the British colonials for children from estates but over the years the schools have transformed into centres for education for lower, middle and upper class Indians in Malaysia.

Critics should go to any school and just see how children come to Tamil schools every morning. Some come in motorcycles, others in buses and some in cars, even Mercedes Benzes.

Like all other schools, the Tamil school follow the national syllabus and all rules and regulations of the Education Ministry. They are an integral part of the national education system and today some 105,000 students study in 523 Tamil schools in the country.

Thus to call for closure of Tamil school is not only stupid, it reflects ignorance on the part of the individuals. How can you close 523 Tamil schools? Where will the 105,000 students study?

Mother tongue education is an inalienable right of every Tamil in this country and it is improper for anybody to demand closure of Tamil school. By doing so they are infringing on the human rights of two million Indians in the country. Mother-tongue education is guarantee in the constitution and is part of the inalienable rights Malaysia has agreed to respect in several UN charters it has signed, i.e the charter of the UN, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Rights of Children and Minorities.

We cannot deny that Tamil schools safeguard our culture and language without which we commit cultural and linguistic genocide.

Without Tamil schools, Tamils will lose their identity as Tamils what will they become? Orphans?

Tamil school education is to teach values, mother-tongue education, culture and not for securing high paying jobs. After primary schools, the students move on to other mediums in secondary and higher levels to universities where they acquire knowledge and expertise in Malay and English to prepare them for the job market. Let's not foolish blame Tamil schools if students don't get good jobs 10 or 15 years down the line after completing six years in Tamil schools. It is pin the blame on Tamil schools.

Today, the majority of Tamil school have the latest teaching and learning facilities. The challenge is to upgrade and make the schools better, and not to clamour for them to be closed.

There were 720 Tamil primary schools in 1963 but the number decreased to 526 in 2000 and 523 today. This was caused by migration from estate to urban areas after plantations were redeveloped into industrial and housing areas.

Performance of Tamil school students have also improved considerably.

More than 400 schools out of 526 schools have been provided with good buildings and basic amenities. More than 80% teachers in Tamil primary schools are trained teachers. Students have recorded high passes in the UPSR examination. The passing percentage among Tamil schools students in 2001 was 40.1% but rose to 57.6% in 2003. In 2001, 165 Tamil school students scored 7As in the UPSR examination. It rose to 356 students in 2003.

Student population also rose steadily. In 2002 there were 87,710 students, in 2003 there were 90,127 students, in 2004 there were 95,242 students and in 2006 it is 105,000. In 2005 14,800 Tamil school candidates sat for the UPSR examination and 516 or 3.5% obtained 7As. In 2004 378 students obtained 7As in UPSR.

Logically nobody would rush to a school system that is useless and a one-way ticket to poverty. The increasing numbers show the parents trust the Tamil school system and sent their children to it.

The 'close Tamil school' debate should end if all these facts and factors are taken into consideration. Only foolish, ill-mannered and uninformed persons will call for Tamil schools to be closed.

The only way to end this illogical debate is to ignore such individuals and carry on improving and expanding Tamil school education for the benefit of Indian Malaysians.

The writer is Ipoh Barat member of parliament.