ASSOCIATIONS representing Chinese vernacular schools and their teachers are planning to hold a rally on December 28 to state their stand against three pages of introductory Jawi lessons for year four pupils starting next year.

Dong Jiao Zong, which represents both the United Chinese Schools Teachers’ Association (Jiao Zong) and the United Chinese School Committees’ Association (Dong Zong), said the rally would be held at the New Era College in Kajang.

It is now asking other Chinese-interest groups to register with Dong Zong to join the rally, to “call to the government to hear the voice of the people and cancel the introduction of Jawi lessons in the Bahasa Malaysia subject for national-type schools”, it said in a Mandarin statement reported by Malaysiakini.

Tamil education groups will also be invited, it added.

Those attending the rally, however, must not bring placards, banners or any propaganda material, said Dong Jiao Zong.

This is to ensure the smooth running of a congress that will be held concurrently with the rally. The congress is to discuss the government’s move to introduce Jawi script in vernacular schools.

The government has diluted its original plan to introduce Jawi script following outcry when the issue was revived earlier this year.

Instead of six pages in the year four Bahasa Melayu textbook, the revised plan will only involve three pages. The content focuses on explaining the meaning of the Jawi script used in that government logo, “Jata Negara”, on Malaysian stamps, and on ringgit notes.

The Education Ministry, in revised guidelines issued recently, has also given schools the right to decide on implementing the lessons or not, by leaving the decision to a 51% majority of parent-teacher associations and parents.

Dong Jiao Zong said there is too little time between now and the new school year which begins in January to take a poll.

They are adamant that Chinese schools won’t accept nor implement the Jawi component of the BM textbook, saying that allowing PTAs and parents to vote on the matter would sideline the school boards’ autonomy.

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said the ministry’s approach to letting school PTAs and parents decide was to prioritise their views. – December 19, 2019.