AN education system offering multiple streams of education, such as Malaysia’s public and vernacular schools, is not a barrier to fostering unity among Malaysians if the concept of togetherness is taught within the curriculum, said Education Minister Maszlee Malik.

He acknowledged that for multi-stream systems to be truly successful, greater effort must be put into emphasising unity and tolerance in schools.

“There’re a lot of opinions on this matter. Even with a multi-stream education system there are countries which stay united. We are aware of the different opinions and views,” he said in a recent interview with The Malaysian Insight.

“As for the Education Ministry, we always make sure that the values related to unity is inculcated and is always appreciated by all Malaysians.

“That is why we encourage curriculum and co-curriculum activities to unify students from various races, religion and schools.”

Maszlee was responding to a question on why why the education system has failed to be a unifying tool amongst Malaysians, even though it has been 50 years since the May 13 racial riots.

There have been repeated calls for a single-stream schooling system, and Malay rights groups have demanded that the government do away with vernacular schools which have been blamed for the segregation of races within Malaysia.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his previous tenure had mooted the concept of Vision Schools, which are school complexes that houses national and vernacular schools in the same compound.

The strategy was to bridge the racial divide and forge an inclusive national identity in response to concerns that vernacular schools were isolating Malaysians of different races at a young age.

However, Maszlee said he believed that as long as an education system was based on the core values of love, happiness and respect, Malaysians would remain united.

“What we want is for all Malaysians to live together in harmony based on the three core values practiced in our ministry, which is love, happiness and mutual respect.

“If we can inculcate these three values in school, university, at home and everywhere in the world, I am sure it will strengthen unity among the people.”

However, the Simpang Renggam MP said strengthening ties between the races was not possible without the support of other institutions and agencies.

“There has to be an ecosystem which will be able to develop an environment where everyone is united,” he said.

As for his hopes for the future, Maszlee said he is hopeful that Malaysia will transform into a reading society.

“We want to make Malaysia a reading nation by 2030. We know that reading is the key to knowledge. Reading will make this society more knowledgeable and educated.”

He said developing a reading culture will pave way for exchange of knowledge.

“Knowledge alone is not sufficient. There has to be a sense of humanity. That’s why we have placed a great emphasis on values.” – May 12, 2019.