Chinese, Tamil educationists reconciled to khat in BM syllabus, says deputy minister

Yeoh Cheong Ee Yeoh Cheong Ee Updated 4 years ago · Published on 6 Aug 2019 7:10PM · 5 Comments

CHINESE and Tamil education groups have agreed to allow khat calligraphy to be taught to Year 4 pupils after a dialogue today with Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching.

“We have agreed that it is not a problem to introduce khat writing. The intention is to introduce the art of khat calligraphy and not to learn Jawi,” Teo said after the meeting at the Education Ministry in Putrajaya.

“We also agree that while introducing khat writing, the students will not be tested. This is the stand of the NGOs, and the ministry agrees.”

Dong Zong, Jiao Zong, Tamil Foundation and Gabungan Pertubuhan Cina Malaysia were among the groups to meet with Teo.

Dong Zong is an association of Chinese school committees while Jiao Zong is an association of Chinese school teachers. These two, along with Tamil groups, had initially opposed the teaching of khat in vernacular schools.

“I think we have cleared the (air) today, we have consensus. There is no doubt,” Teo said.

She called the dialogue today “meaningful” and said that all present had agreed that the ministry should continue to engage the vernacular groups on the Standard Curriculum and Assessment Document (DSKP) for Bahasa Melayu.

The DSKP for BM was revised to include khat by the ministry under the previous Barisan Nasional government.

Teo said the ministry would also continuously improve the BM DSKP to help educators teach the subject.  – August 6, 2019.

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Comments

  • "introduce the art of khat calligraphy and not to learn Jawi", I am indeed confused.

    Posted 4 years ago by Yew Soon Kin · Reply

  • Teo Nie Ching should get her priority right. Is Khat calligraphy so important? As it is there are already many many pressing issues in the education ministry, most important of which is to get back to the high standards of the years gone by.

    Posted 4 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • Well I'll be....

    Nvr thot I'd see the day where DAP morphs into MCA 2.0

    I can understand if Bersatu = UMNO 2.0

    But DAP = MCA 2.0?

    That belongs, in Ripley's Believe it or Not

    Posted 4 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • I appreciate the work that DAP has done to bring about a change in government. Now that they are in power, they should do the right thing instead of protecting their position in government.

    6 pages of Khat as an art for calligraphy should not be a priority. In fact, six pages of basic sex education or ills of corruption would benefit the students more.

    Please get your priorities right.

    Posted 4 years ago by Anonymous 1234 · Reply

    • Totally agree with you!

      Posted 4 years ago by Witzi Leong · Reply