About 300 teachers employed by the Kedah religious council (MAIK) to serve in people's religious schools ( sekolah agama rakyat or SAR) in the state have moved to national schools.

This has left hundreds of students in dire straits, especially with the major PMR and SPM examinations due to be held later this year, according to Save the SAR movement (Gegar).

Gegar chairperson Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said the teachers concerned have accepted the Education Ministry's offer of places in national schools. The exercise began earlier this month.

As a result, he said, 45 schools are on the verge of being shut down, with the worst affected being Sek Men (Agama) Sungai Petani in Bidung, Sek Men (Agama) Mengkuang in Baling and Madrasah Iman As-Syafie in Pedu.

In January, the ministry invited the teachers to join government service. It has since attracted about 1,300 teachers from SAR.

The move followed the government's decision to stop an annual grant ranging from RM60 to RM150 per student in such schools. It alleged that these schools did not teach real religious subjects, but instill hate against government leaders.

'Frustrating situation'

Mohd Azmi said the situation has been worsened by MAIK's lackadaisical attitude in addressing the shortage of teachers.

"Without teachers, how can the schools go on functioning? The situation frustrates us. It is very sad," he told malaysiakini .

"Committee members (of Gegar) told me about the students being in tears, begging their teachers not to leave them at a time when they are most needed.

"Some did not even know that the teachers were leaving and only found out after they (the teachers) left. You know how children are...they were sad that some (of the teachers) did not even say goodbye."

He stressed that Gegar has no intention of stopping the teachers from moving to government schools, but said the recruitment exercise could have been postponed until after the examinations.

"Despite the difference of opinion, couldn't they (the government) have considered the students' future? These are important examinations...the government could have waited to start (employing the teachers) next year. How could they have been so thoughtless?" he asked.

He did not dismiss the idea that the exercise could be part of the government's plan to phase out SAR.

"First, they took away the grants. Then, they offered the teachers lucrative pay and perks. Then they took them ( the teachers) at this time of the year. If this is not phasing out SAR, I don't know what it is," Mohd Azmi said.

He added that this has also undermined an on-going study on SAR, which is being carried out by a special commission on the orders of the Rulers' Council in March.

Reason for departure

However, an education observer who declined to be identified said the "cold treatment" meted out to teachers who had accepted the government offer may have been one reason why they were anxious to leave SAR.

"I was told that the teachers who accepted the government's offer were often criticised and subjected to snide remarks and cynicism from colleague and parents of students," he said.

"The unhealthy environment made them bitter. So when it was time to leave, they did not look back."

However, he agreed with Mohd Azmi that the recruitment exercise should not have been conducted until the commission has completed and submitted its report on SAR.

On the same issue, Mohd Azmi issued a statement today stating that Gegar has written to MAIK chairperson Syeikh Kassim Saad seeking his co-operation to overcome the shortage of teachers soon.

"We also want MAIK to continue monitoring the religious schools, review the situation and come up with solutions to help save the schools and students," he said.

When contacted, Kassim's personal assistant said Gegar's letter had only arrived this morning and that it could only be referred to him when he returns from an official trip in Langkawi.

"He is aware of the problem and is expected to discuss it with the council's school registrar when he gets back in a few days," said the assistant.

The controversy over SAR began when the government announced its intention to stop the annual per capita grant for students, thereby threatening the existence of such schools nationwide which were reliant on the money.

The government took this approach following Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's claim that the students were taught to hate the government - a charge that the schools have refuted.

As at the end of last year, there were more than 268 SAR involving 74,000 primary and secondary students. Following government intervention, 15,000 students have transferred to study at national schools.