I remember in the old days, maybe fifty years ago, when our schools were mostly run by missionaries from all over the world.

They will always be remembered for bringing modern education to our shores. However, some of them were unabashedly mixing religion and academic studies in these institutions.

According to friends, some were quite liberal and did not allow non-Christians in their chapel. Others, however, were not so charitable as Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists were sometimes forced to pray during these sessions .

Most of the non-Christians students were openly not comfortable with this rule.

I remember my late grandfather relating stories about how his friend's sons or daughters, began to openly question their parents about the validity of their religion as they had proof that Christianity was the truest religion of all. This had caused major enmity between the priests and the parents.

As a result, many Muslims, vehemently discouraged their children from going to missionary schools.

Some went to Government's English schools, while the rest went to vernacular ones.

This is understandable as such rules, the ones that forces students to pray or listen to Christian prayers, undermines the authority of parents and to a certain extent, racial by nature.

missionary school 241207 play Most non-Christians, however, still stayed at missionary schools because they offered good education.

The medium of instruction was English. Schools like Penang Free School, the Anglo Chinese schools or Methodist schools all over the country, practised this unacceptable behavior.

Today however, missionary schools have become a national entity.

Dominance of one religion questioned

Instead of English, Bahasa Melayu is now used for all subjects. This is fine except that instead of Christianity, Islam is now the call word for sessions like the school assembly or yasin reading days on Fridays.

The question that I would like to ask the authorities of such schools is, isn't this as unacceptable to non-Muslims students as they were during the early days of Malaysian education?

Isn't this the same practice of forcing non-Muslim students to accept the dominance of Islam.

Every time there is a prayer in Arabic, the non-Muslim students have to accept this as a requirement to be in school.

Isn't this a form of segregation as this marginalised them into submitting that Islam is the order of their day?

This is not fair to them. Malay Muslims regard this as a God-given right as Islam is the country's official religion.

Everytime a Muslim enters a class, instead of a neutral ‘Good morning', it has become Assalamualaikum and Selamat Sejahtera Cikgu.

This has further divided the students into two big groups; the Muslims and the non -Muslims.

Some schools even do Qiamulail prayers or Solat Hajat so that Malay Muslim students will pass their exams but not the non -Muslim schoolmates.

There isn't any need for Solat Hajat for non- Muslim students. There should also be Buddhist prayers or a Hindu mantra session for Indian students. Does this mean that they are ignored and Allah is not on their side?

School authorities simply ignore the fact that some non -Muslims, who are and always will be citizens of this country, to become second class citizens in the eyes of Malaysian education.

America has long stopped prayers in schools as it had created divisions in their liberal education.

A school is a place where students are given knowledge to create citizens that are harmonious, creative, just and above all, tolerant of other races or religions.

I think, schools should be made secular and democratic as this is the only way to unite our nation.

The domination of one religion above others has caused dissent among non- Muslims and therefore the concept of One Malaysia is not going to be achieved.

Only a fair and just education system will allow our future leaders to be modern, progressive and tolerant.

Followers are also required to embrace the same values. Isn't it time to reconsider the direction in which we are heading?

Malaysian educators, leaders or even political leaders have to wake up and realise that this country has a long way to go before it can be equal for all races and religions.

The modern world is now blowing a different tune than say fifty years ago. Gone are the days of racial supremacy or nationalistic sentiment as Malaysia is not owned by only one race, it is now a melting pot of various races from all nook and crannies all over the world.

And there is only one world and not one race.

AKMAL ARIFFIN is a 50-year-old schoolteacher who teaches English. He plays guitar and the blues harp whenever possible, and used to write for the Rottw mag. He was a copywriter for a while and a bass guitarist for Amir Yussof of the dreadlock fame once upon a time.

He has now left the city and chose to reside close to the evergreen jungle of Pahang. Akmal is a citizen journalist, trained by Malaysiakini .