PAGE questions decision to build tombstone in school compound

KLANG: The Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) has questioned the decision by a secondary school, here to build a replica of an Islamic tombstone in its compound for educational purposes.
Describing the move as "illogical", its chairman Datin Nor Azimah Abdul Rahim questioned the need for the SMK Sultan Abdul Samad, in Bukit Kuda, here to construct the replica tombstone to teach Islamic studies.
"Why is there a necessity for it? For 60 years since independence, Islamic Studies has been taught and inculcated to Muslim students for years without any need for tombstones.
"It is an unnecessary and a provocative move by the school," she said when contacted, today.
School authorities, however have claimed that they had received the approval of the district education office prior to constructing the mock Islamic tombstone in the school compound.
A spokesperson from the school, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the mock tombstone which was built during the school holidays was meant entirely for educational purposes, specifically for the Islamic Studies subject.
“The tombstone is only a replica, not a real grave, and was built during the school holidays. The headmistress had applied and received approval prior to its construction.
“It was build for educational and observation purposes as it falls under the Pendidikan Islam module,” he told theSun when met at the school entrance, today.
The spokesperson added that the matter has since received the attention of the Education Ministry before declining to comment further.
The issue involving the tombstone came to light when it was raised by Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy who sent an open letter to Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, today, demanding an explanation.
In the letter, Waythamoorthy called on the ministry to explain the reason behind its construction and demanded that the structure be removed from the school's premises.