I AM deeply worried about the way our schools are run these days. On reading the recent news reports, I begin to doubt the institutions’ capability of inculcating students with good values and producing future leaders.

One school in Johor Baru made the students wash school toilets during lessons while another in Ipoh insulted students’ religious beliefs.

Students have even died in schools, like K. Yashovan from SM Seksyen 1 Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, Selangor, and Abdul Azim Abdul Haris from SK Sri Wang, Sungai Petani, Kedah.

Not to forget the gender segregation practices like in some schools in Seremban and Gombak.

If teachers who are supposed to be role models and teach the virtues of life make such mistakes, how can they teach the children to love their fellow classmates and respect each other’s beliefs and cultures?

How will students even respect their teachers? It is like the old Malay proverb seperti ketam mengajar anaknya berjalan betul (a crab teaching its young to walk straight”).

I do not intend to lay the blame on the schools and teachers, but I strongly feel that there is a lack of dedication, passion and efficiency; and this should not be the way. It is sad that because of some bad apples, we have to be sceptical of the whole bunch.

Although the Education Ministry has promised to look into the matters and investigate, it is still not enough to convince people that such problems would not recur.

Without timely and concrete intervention and change, the public will lose trust in the quality of education and management of our schools.

KAREN,
Batu Caves, Selangor,

Source: The Star – January 31, 2008