Ministry: Palestine Solidarity Week to teach students empathy for others

Palestine Solidarity Week in schools will teach students about humanitarian values, said the Education Ministry.

This includes teaching them how to be colour-blind when it comes to empathy, it added.

"This programme will teach students humanitarian values which also cover human rights and courtesy.

"It includes empathy and attentiveness to the sufferings of other individuals regardless of race, religion or social status," the ministry said in a statement today.

The ministry added that the solidarity week - which will also be held at vocational colleges and teaching institutes - will commence from Oct 29 to Nov 3.

Yesterday, a group of civil society organisations (CSOs) voiced opposition to the week-long programme, after a circular informing schools about it was circulated on social media.

The CSOs urged the Education Ministry to keep international conflicts, religious disputes and war cries out of schools.

Two Sarawakian lawmakers also opposed the plan, saying schools should be neutral ground.

The ministry said that because of modern technology and communications, children are already exposed to all sorts of content, including international conflicts and humanitarian crises.

As such, the ministry said there needed to be intervention to clarify things with the students - hence the Palestine Solidarity Week.

It also said the solidarity week was a continuation of efforts to inculcate good values based on respect, love, responsibility and happiness as is included in the civic studies curriculum.

The ministry mentioned that there will be various programmes, while any religious activities such as solat hajat, will only involve Muslim students.

Palestinians in Gaza are currently under siege from retaliatory attacks from Israel - which has claimed thousands of lives.

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