'PM should emulate idea to not abolish vernacular schools'

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak (pix) should emulate Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's lecturer Prof Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin to not abolish vernacular schools as proposed by former court of appeal judge Mohd Noor Abdullah in a local Malay daily recently.
In making the call, DAP's Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto said Mohd Noor had claimed in the report, on July 15, that a single stream education system would create unity (among Malaysians) while linking it to the recent Low Yat Plaza theft's fracas.
Calling his suggestion a disgrace, she said: "This is also not the first time that he has called for the abolishment of vernacular schools in the country citing reasons that it is divisive and unconstitutional."
She also cited the Education Ministry's reply in Parliament on March 23 which stated that it has carried out a process to standardise the implementation of the Bahasa Malaysia Language Curriculum for Primary Schools (KSSR) for Standard 4 students to bridge the gap in the command of Bahasa Malaysia (BM) for students from Tamil and Chinese schools with the aim to uphold BM and to strengthen the English language.
As such, it was also the ministry's responsibility to ensure that students from vernacular schools are also well-equipped in their command of both languages, she said.
Given this scenario, she urged the Prime Minister to come forward and send a clear and strong message to those individuals such as Mohd. Noor on the position of vernacular schools in the country as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.