Unity in the country is best accomplished through the education system it has. The country should have a progressive education system that can attract people of all races and religions. The education system should mirror the nation’s aspiration and vision.

A national school has a contractual obligation to play this role. In any part of the world, it is the education system a country inherits that chiefly helps the people to have the same aspirations for the country and live united.

Most Malaysians cannot accept the bashing of vernacular and religious schools. We have been culturally and politically tuned to the fact that these schools must exist in the country even after 51 years of independence. In a way, the people cannot be totally blamed, as it is not much a language factor that draws people to these schools but the cultural factor.

People want to be educated and associated with their own culture and thus the passion for vernacular schools, in particular.

Instead of bashing the non-national schools, why not do more to shape the national school into the school of choice for all Malaysians? This would be more ideal as unity can best be achieved through a unified education system that reflects no partiality for any race or religion.

Ostensibly, to bring in support for the national school, there has to be sacrifice on the part of political and social leaders. It has been the rhetoric by many nationalistic figures in the country for the past five decades but unfortunately it has not succeeded much.

If truth be told, for the past two decades, there has been a growing demand for vernacular and religious schools in the country. Even many Malays are sending their children to vernacular schools - especially Chinese schools - and some to private religious schools.

Education ideally should not be a divisive factor in nation building. It is through the education process that the people could strive together in unity and be proud of the nation.

If national schools can provide sufficient Chinese and Tamil lessons to pupils, this would attract more Chinese and Tamil parents to send their children to these schools. If national schools could also provide balanced religious studies for the Malays, it will attract more Malays to national primary schools instead of the many private religious schools that are flourishing in the country.

If the English language is effectively taught in national schools, perhaps more non-Malay parents would prefer their children to study in these schools rather than vernacular schools. Most parents, regardless of race, want their children to be proficient in English.

At the moment, there are thousands of Malay parents who send their children to Chinese schools. There are many wealthy parents – Malays, Chinese and Indians – who send their children to international and private schools.

Hundreds of parents with means are also sending their children overseas at a very tender age for an English education. Those living in Southern Johor prefer to send their children across the border for education.

They do not mind leaving home as early as 5am just to reach school in time for what they perceive as better education for their children. Such is the perception some Malaysians have for education and in the process, disregard national schools which the majority of Malaysians attend.

Even at the tertiary level, if given a choice, most parents would want their children to go overseas for their higher education. Many aspire to get a foreign degree. Many prefer to go for twinning programmes rather than study at any local private or public university if they are financially able to do so. Why such a perception in our society? There could be a few reasons behind this.

Education in the country should not be politicised. Our education system should cater for the aptitudes and aspirations of all our children. If we are aware that English is important for our children to stand out in education, be serious and focus on it.

Do not politicise this issue just to win votes in elections. If the standard of teaching is poor and the command of English among our teachers and lecturers at schools and universities is derisory, do something to remedy this to attract Malaysians and also foreigners to study in local educational institutions.

We should stop pretending that everything is honky dory in our education system. Our education system should be bold enough to change and be competitive in this globalised world.

The education system should go for quality and be ready to employ the best and most experienced to teach our students. Encourage our students to mix with all races right from young for them to have more tolerance for each other and a better outlook in life. Treat people of all races and religions the same as they are all descendants of Adam.

National schools should be staffed with teachers of all races and the principals must be selected from among all races like the good old days. It must profess a neutral philosophy and not be prejudiced with religious or racial overtones to make every Malaysian happy studying in these schools and have a sense of belonging for the school and the country.

All schools and universities should be racially mixed for our students to be culturally immersed. Education should not be stifled by policies that are politically tainted and racially biased.

All our children should be seen as assets as they will eventually return to the fold to serve our beloved country. Bright students, irrespective of race, should be given the opportunities to excel in education, as they too are assets to the country. Then we shall be able to see a truly united Malaysian.

The national language should be learnt by all Malaysians as it is the language of the nation and its people. Every Malaysian should be proud of the national language as a language for unity and be proficient in it.

We should also make English, Mandarin and other foreign languages important subject in schools and universities. Allow students to choose whichever third language they prefer to learn in school.

Do not impose these subjects on them because of self-centred reasons. Neither should we discourage them from learning any foreign languages. There is nothing wrong for a child to learn Malay, Mandarin or Tamil if that is their choice.

National schools should also give more focus on universally relevant subjects in school such as mathematics, computer literacy and languages. Education should be seen as a progressive tool to ensure optimal human capitalisation for the nation. It should not have anything to do with politics.

When all this is achieved in our national schools, we shall find more parents abandoning vernacular and religious schools and voluntarily flock to national schools for a world-class education.