The decision by the United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) to pull out from the special committee to address the shortage of teachers at Chinese primary schools would not affect the committee's work, said Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong.

He said the special committee which was set up under a cabinet directive would continue its work with other stakeholders as it was set up in good faith to consult and seek views from various stakeholders in resolving the issue.

"I regret that they (Dong Zong) have decided to pull out. However, we will continue to convene meetings and thoroughly resolve the issue. We can't force them (Dong Zong) to attend. However, our conscience is clear and we will move forward," he told Bernama when contacted.

On Friday, Dong Zong chairman Yap Sin Tian announced that the chinese education movement was pulling out from the special committee, claiming it did not make sense to stay on as "the committee is not a policy making body" and "not able to handle the fundamental problem" faced by the Chinese schools.

Yap also claimed that the committee could only handle technical issues and resolve problems on a case-by-case basis.

However, Wee explained that the scope of work of the special committee had been clearly spelled out, that was  to deal with the problem, regardless of whether it was technical or at policy level.

He said the committee, chaired by him, had so far has come out with various efforts under an eight-point plan to address the issues which included sending teachers who were not very proficient in Mandarin to teach in Chinese vernacular schools.

Don’t squander opportunity

The plan, endorsed by the cabinet and announced by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister, in early April, also stated that teachers with the minimum Chinese language qualification at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level would teach in grades A and B Chinese vernacular schools for Level One (Year One to Three) while teachers with the minimum SPM Chinese language qualification would teach in schools with a low enrolment.

Meanwhile, Federation of Chinese Associations in Malaysia (Huazong) president Pheng Yin Huah has urged Dong Zong not to quit the committee as as it was akin to giving up a direct communication channel.

"The special committee cannot make any changes to the existing policies and systems, but its recommendations reach the highest policy-making decision level, that is cabinet. Therefore, we should not give away this opportunity to solve the problem," he said in a statement.

- Bernama