PARTICIPANTS at a dialogue on the introduction of Jawi script in vernacular schools with Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching were stumped when told to surrender their handphones before entering the venue.

Ministry officials told the participants from 13 Chinese and Indian civil society groups that the move was to prevent any misrepresentation of the meeting.

The phones were collected at the registration counter and returned after the dialogue.

Teo spoke about the ministry’s plan and the content of lessons for the Jawi script to be introduced for Year Four pupils in vernacular schools.

The ministry has said the teaching of the script is subject to approval by the parent-teacher association in vernacular schools. However, the script will be taught in national schools as planned.

“The deputy education minister briefed us on the Jawi content during the meeting. But it is yet to be finalised,” said Deputy Rural Development Minister R Sivarasa, who also attended the briefing.

“This (briefing) is to let the participants understand what we have in the textbooks for the lessons, including Jawi, which appears on bank notes, national emblem and so on.

“This would give the participants a clearer picture on what the students are going to learn,” he said.

The briefing is also to clear any confusion on this issue, he added.

“A lot of people are not really clear on what exactly the cabinet’s decision on the Jawi issue is, so the ministry has taken the initiative to have this dialogue session,” he said. – August 21, 2019.