‘Students should mix with all races’
Maszlee: Schools should organise activities to encourage children to know each other better
JOHOR BARU: Schools in the country should encourage pupils to mix with their peers of other races, says Dr Maszlee Malik.
The Education Minister said a survey he personally conducted showed that most pupils only mixed with their own race in school, and it was the same for those they chose as their friends outside.
He said he met several Malay pupils and asked them to list the names of their 10 best friends, adding that none named any Chinese or Indians.
“It is sadly the same for Chinese and Indian students,’’ Dr Maszlee told reporters at a reunion of old students of SK Temenggong Abdul Rahman 2 near here yesterday.
He said this scenario was not good for a multi-racial country like Malaysia, adding that students should widen their circle of friends.
He urged national-type schools, Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools and Islamic religious or tahfiz schools to organise activities and programmes to encourage their students to know each other better.
“They can start with sports as youngsters love to engage in outdoor activities.
“This is a good way to forge friendships,” he added.
Dr Maszlee said there were also proposals for schools to dedicate two days a week to help students improve their proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia and the English Language.
“I will discuss the matter with the relevant parties and hopefully our schools are receptive to the idea,” he said.
Dr Maszlee said Tuesday or Wednesday could be chosen as English Language day and Thursday for Bahasa Malaysia, with activities outside the classroom to be conducted in these languages.
He said the ministry wanted to see students speak with confidence in English and at the same time also strengthen their grasp of Bahasa Malaysia.
Dr Maszlee said the weekly Bahasa Malaysia day should not be confined to only national-type schools but also private schools as well as Chinese and Tamil schools.
They can start with sports as youngsters love to engage in outdoor activities. Dr Maszlee Malik