A CHINESE school organisation has denied claims by the deputy education minister yesterday that vernacular education groups have accepted the teaching of khat to year four pupils.

Dong Zong or Chinese United School Committees’ Association, whose representatives met Teo Nie Ching yesterday, said it clearly stated its opposition to the teaching of Jawi in vernacular schools.

“We had strongly opposed the teaching of Jawi writing in national-type (vernacular) primary schools.

“At the meeting yesterday, our representatives reiterated to the deputy minister that the ministry should first engage and hold discussions with the relevant groups. They must be invited to participate in discussions on the Standard Curriculum and Assessment Document (DSKP) for Bahasa Melayu before making decisions for vernacular schools,” Dong Zong said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

Teo said yesterday the ministry reached a consensus with Chinese and Tamil education groups on the introduction of khat writing to the year four syllabus next year.

The meeting also agreed that the intention behind the move is to introduce khat to pupils, not to learn Jawi.

However, Dong Zong said today the introduction of khat next year involved more than giving pupils a basic understanding.

“We explained that since five years ago, the year five BM textbook already introduced pupils to the basics of Jawi script and does not ask them to learn it. This is acceptable.”

Dong Zong said it is sticking to a joint statement of August 5, the day before meeting Teo, issued together with other Chinese and Tamil education groups in which they asked Putrajaya to postpone the teaching of khat in vernacular schools.

The matter should be postponed until further discussions are held to dispel any concern and to see if teaching khat will fulfil the needs of pupils enrolled in vernacular schools.

Both Chinese and Tamil groups said their main concern was workload and time, since pupils in these schools are already struggling to learn BM.

Dong Zong today called for more sensitivity towards education issues and urged thorough consultation before implementing any new measure. – August 7, 2019.