Group: Make public Year Four BM textbook details

PETALING JAYA: Seventeen organisations have urged the government to announce the content of the Year Four Bahasa Melayu’s Standard Curriculum and Assessment Document (DSKP).

The organisations include Dong Jiao Zong and eight other Indian community organisations.

Both Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers’ Association) and Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees’ Association) are collectively known as Dong Jiao Zong.

They also called for details on the textbook and how the subject will be taught to be made known.

“We have acknowledged that the Cabinet has reviewed and made changes to the teaching of Jawi writing in vernacular schools.

“As there is still much to be clarified, we call on the ministry to announce the contents of the DSKP and the Bahasa Melayu textbook and how Jawi writing will be implemented so that the public will know,” Dong Jiao Zong said in a joint statement together with the other organisations yesterday.

So far, a total of 17 education and community organisations have signed the joint statement.

The group reiterated that emphasis should be placed on teaching and learning to increase Malay language proficiency among pupils, and that they were only agreeable to have an introductory lesson on Jawi writing in schools.

“It is sufficient to introduce Jawi writing to let the pupils know the existence of this form of writing.

“The government’s concern with the voice of the non-Muslim community and taking steps to allay the concerns is the right move,” it said.

On Aug 14, the ministry announced that

As there is still much to be clarified, we call on the ministry to announce the contents of the DSKP and the Bahasa Melayu textbook and how Jawi writing will be implemented so that the public will know.

Joint statement by 17 organisations

Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) together with parents and pupils of vernacular schools would have a say on whether pupils would learn Jawi writing in the Bahasa Melayu subject.

This means that Jawi writing will remain an optional topic for vernacular schools.

The decision follows a public outcry when it was announced in late July that Jawi writing (formerly referred to as khat calligraphy) would be part of the Year Four Bahasa Melayu textbook.

On PTAs and parents having a say on the teaching of Jawi writing in vernacular schools, the group said it foresaw problems and difficulties in its implementation as most Chinese primary schools in Sabah and Sarawak do not have a PTA.

“It is more suitable to let the schools’ board of governors decide because the board also has PTA and alumni representatives inside,” it said.

It added that the ministry should continue to engage with stakeholders to allay public concerns and doubts.