Dong Jiao Zong calls for white paper on SAR
A vocal Chinese education movement has come out in defence of the People's Religious Schools or Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR), calling on the government to issue a white paper on the matter.
Dong Jiao Zong, which has consistently championed the right to mother tongue education, said the white paper should explain clearly the controversy surrounding the issue.
"For example, what contents of subjects [taught in SARs] have diverted [and] from what? How is SAR a stumbling block to the country's development, [as alleged by the government]?" asked the movement.
"By [explaining this], the public will be able to understand the government's handling of SAR, and can judge for themselves whether the action was appropriate or not," it added in a statement dated Feb 13.
The controversy arose when the government decided to stop financial assistance to about 260 SARs nationwide.
A vocal Chinese education movement has come out in defence of the People's Religious Schools or Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR), calling on the government to issue a white paper on the matter.
Dong Jiao Zong, which has consistently championed the right to mother tongue education, said the white paper should explain clearly the controversy surrounding the issue.
"For example, what contents of subjects [taught in SARs] have diverted [and] from what? How is SAR a stumbling block to the country's development, [as alleged by the government]?" asked the movement.
"By [explaining this], the public will be able to understand the government's handling of SAR, and can judge for themselves whether the action was appropriate or not," it added in a statement dated Feb 13.
The controversy arose when the government decided to stop financial assistance to about 260 SARs nationwide.
The government alleged that SARs were not educating their pupils on religion but the politics of hate, and has accordingly cut the percapita funding to these schools.
Following the financial clampdown, students of SARs have been advised to register at national schools. The opposition sees this as an attempt to close down the schools, with PAS hopping mad about it as SARs are considered 'recruitment grounds' for its party members.
Demand, supply
Dong Jiao Zong said although SARs do not have a strong or formal structure, they have been around for a long time.
The movement said as long as there was public demand for SARs and parents want their children to be educated in religious studies, then these schools should be allowed to continue existing.
Of late, the government has been threatening to take action against SAR without specifying the measures.
According to statistics issued by the authorities, one in every seven Malay students is enrolled in SAR.
Dong Jiao Zong said the white paper should include the implications arising out of transferring students to national schools, such as how students cope with the new environment.
The white paper should also highlight the emotional and economic burdens of parents, and the wastage, if any, of school facilities.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Umno Chenderoh Youth chief and Entrepreneur Development
Minister Nazri Mohd Aziz and PAS deputy chief Sallahuddin Ayub debated in Kuala Lumpur about the issue.
The debate concluded with the two leaders signing a joint statement to uphold religious education in the country.
