Segregation in co-ed schools

Posted on January 26, 2008
Filed Under Malaysian News |

KOTA KINABALU: The principal of a secondary school near here has been ordered to stop segregating male and female students.

Sabah Education Department director Normah Gagoh said she had directed the principal of SMK Tansau in Penampang to stop the practice immediately.She said the department would be keeping close tabs on the school to ensure that the segregation of students would not recur.

“Being a co-educational school, the students from diverse backgrounds must interact to maintain multi-racial and multi-cultural unity.”

She said the Education Ministry advocated integration of students in line with the first strategic thrust of the National Education Blueprint that focused on building a Malaysian nation.

Source: The Star January 26, 2008 Online Edition

This is going on in Kota Kinabalu? Sabah? I am indeed surprised.

The only conclusion I can arrive at for this to have happened is this: The Principal has recently made a pilgrimage to Mecca. He or she was educated in Semenanjung Malaysia and was influenced by the dominant Malay-Muslim-Arabic culture there.

Sabah and Sarawak are known for their tolerance towards the different cultures and religions. Where else can you find a coffee shop that has vendors selling halal and non-halal food next to each other?

I was disturbed when I first read about the segregation of male and female students at SMK Seremban Jaya in Senawang from Lim Kit Siang’s blog.

And now this, in Sabah of all places.

The school principals, who acted unilaterally, should not be merely suspended. They should be removed from their posts. They have overstepped the bounds of their job description and who is to say they would not do it again?

Why do you suppose these school principals had the temerity to implement such school policies when clearly they had no authority to do anything like that? Policies like making school prefects wear the songkok (issue has since then been resolved), prohibiting the use of the Chinese drums for the Lion Dance performances, prohibiting non-halal food from being brought to school, and forcing Muslim girls to put on the tudung. Forget about forming a swimming club at school!

Could it be that these principals were taking their cue from some of the government officials? Like the demolition of an Orang Asli church, the destruction of Hindu temples, the taking of dead bodies and giving them Muslim burial rights ( re recent Malaysiakini news story), and the Federal Court’s decision on Lina Joy’s case? These are just some of the cases where the religious freedoms of the non-Muslims have been trampled on.

Is it that much of a surprise that some school principals have taken it upon themselves to implement policies that are in line with Islamic practices but have no regard at all to the sensitivities of the non-Muslim students?

I say enough with this nonsense! Stop the creeping tide of Islamisation in Malaysia!

Update:

The Daily Express, a Sabah daily, reported that the school principal of the SMK Tansau, Penampang (school with the gender segregation policy) is the wife of a Sabah UMNO Minister. :shock:

Sphere: Related Content

Comments

4 Responses to “Segregation in co-ed schools”

  1. Serious Shepherd on January 28th, 2008 12:47 am

    These are some of my recommended steps to stop the creeping tide of Islamisation in Malaysia:
    -change the standard school uniform for girls to mini skirt. Make the uniform compulsory for non-Muslims
    -introduce ‘universal’ washing room at co-ed schools
    -to campaign for swimming club at schools, those who support such move should wear swimsuits during school hours, including in class

    [reply this comment]

    Puteri reply on January 28, 2008:

    Haha, good luck on your recommendations! :-)

  2. pat on January 28th, 2008 6:42 pm

    pelik…ka agik meh anembiak nyadi liar ketegal nadai exposed enggau kawan yg nadai sama gender..

    Aku enggai ngasuh anak aku sekula indu aja tauka laki aja…enti ulih biarlah exposed mimit awak ka sidak iya bisi saingan ari segi pelajaran.and belajar bergaul enggau anembiak bukai positively.

    [reply this comment]

    Puteri reply on January 28, 2008:

    Amat munyi ko nuan Pat. Tak majak ulah bala sida ti ngumbai diri alim!

Leave a Reply




ss_blog_claim=1f23ed337eb47d3b7efe10d79a6b8238