Ministry to remove Sabah principal who ordered religious segregation

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 17 Mar 2019 3:16PM · 6 Comments

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching says the convenience religious segregation affords the teachers in a Sabah school comes at the expense of unity. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, March 17, 2019.

THE Education Ministry will remove the missionary school principal in Sabah who ordered the segregation of Muslim and non-Muslim students, said Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching.

She said only those with a shallow mentality would order such a thing.

“The State Education Department has informed officers from the school management, while Jemaah Nazir and Jaminan Quality will go the school tomorrow to assist in the rectification.

“I have asked the department to take the necessary action immediately.

“The report on the matter has already been prepared,” she said in a WhatsApp message to a DAP rep, which was shared with reporters today.

The segregation of Form One students in Muslim and non-Muslim classes at SM All Saints, near Likas, Kota Kinabalu, last week. saw a backlash from the parents of the children. 

The school principal, who holds a doctorate, called a meeting with parents on March 9 to explain the rationale for her action, but many of the parents perceived the move to be for the convenience of the teachers and not to benefit the students.

An online petition was launched, garnering thousands of signatures, accusing the principal of promoting racial and religious segregation.

Teo said the principal’s action was illogical was the school is where mutual respect and racial unity are cultivated.

She said religious segregation is as bad as racial segregation.

She said the principal was aiming for convenience by segregating the students at the expense of unity.

“Only a school manager who is shallow would do such a thing.” – March 17, 2019.

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Comments

  • Good, thats the way to go in taking quick action to remove people who are competent to do their work.

    Posted 5 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • Let's make Malaysia great again, not smaller.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Doctorate doesnt mean jack shit if you do this, some murderers and bomb makers in IS also had doctorates and the segregated and killed people.. is that ok for this headmistress?

    Posted 5 years ago by Alphonz Jayaraman · Reply

  • Good move. Now remove the Agama teachers who create was-was against the school canteen or doubles as nasi lemah sellers to the Muslim children in SRK(C). Not to forget the class teachers who continue teaching other subjects during Moral education period while the Muslim children have to decide whether to miss the Agama lesson or continue with the class teacher's lesson. Please do not give Agama equal importance with other core subjects in the time-tamle. .

    Posted 5 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply

  • remove? Does this mean sack or transfer?

    Posted 5 years ago by Anjing kawan Kucing Comel · Reply

  • The root cause that could have triggered the need for segregation is the ease of time tabling (TT). Two subjects sticking out as misfits are moral education & Agama, both non core subjects in the T T. These subjects do not enhance the value of any certificate. In SRK because of the quality and dedication of the teachers, the school life is very challenging for the pupils. It is the next best thing when we compare with the expensive education offered by the private schools. Many non Chinese parents have realised this and are sending their children to SRK(C). My three g'children went through this. An extra language is priceless in today's environment.

    Posted 5 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply