NUTP: Adopt bottom-up approach to address unity in schools

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to adopt a bottom-up approach instead of the traditional top-down method in addressing issues related to racial integration in schools.

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan Huat Hock said issues on unity and integration must be dealt with on a deeper level and not merely by blaming the education system.

He said although teachers were considered as being among the grassroots who deal with future citizens, the government was unwilling to listen to suggestions proposed by the group.

“Let us try to resolve this problem bottom-up and not top-down. Nobody wants to hear what the teachers suggest — grassroots people who deal with our citizens.

“Previously, there was a suggestion of having

Sekolah Wawasan, but it was a logistical challenge to place all these types of schools together.

“We even have RIMUP

(Rancangan Intergrasi

Murid Untuk Perpaduan, or Student Integration Plan for Unity) to try and unite students.

“Everyone is talking, but no one is looking into this matter seriously,”

Tan told the New Straits Times.

He was commenting on the proposal by the government to house all types of schools in one campus, as announced by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently, to promote national unity.

Tan proposed that the government emphasise national schools and encourage high enrolment of students from various races.

“Conduct studies on their (national schools) strengths and build on them. It is akin to keeping the fire of unity alive and not snuffing it out altogether.”

NUTP proposed that the government set up a high-powered committee to identify issues hindering unity among students.

Let us try to resolve this problem bottom-up and not top-down. Nobody wants to hear what the teachers suggest — grassroots people who deal with our citizens. HARRY TAN HUAT HOCK National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general