There are people, mainly the Malays and Muslims who takes the view that there should only be 1 national schools. They claim that vernacular schools segregate races are a hindrance to national unity. But what are the real reasons for the minorities preferring to send their children to vernacular schools? And are they the reason for Malaysians disunity? What probably would happen if a teacher in the vernacular schools were to pray Hindu/Buddist/Taoist/Christian prayers before starting a class?
It should be valid to believe that the Malay/Muslims will start a huge hue and cry.
Let me take myself and my children to illustrate. I previously stayed at a different town/city from where I am staying currently. And there was a national school within short walking distance from my home then. So it is natural for me to send my child to that school. Not long after she enrolled, I went to observe the class she was in. And what did I see? I saw the teacher praying a Muslim prayer before she started the class. And almost 100% of the class was Malays and I assume Muslims.
And let us fast forward to the present. Why are the minority races not sending their children to the national schools preferring either to send them to the vernacular schools or if they can afford it, to the international schools? The NEP (New Economic Policy was meant to remove/reduce the imbalance between the races. When it was first introduced, the Malays were mostly staying in the rural areas and they were relatively poorer than the other races, especially the Chinese. The professions (Doctors/Lawyers/Accountants etc) were mostly non-Malays, non-Muslims. So I plus many of other Malaysians would support the NEP. But the NEP was supposed to be for a limited period and not a never ending perpetual policy.
And it is the views of many that the standards were purposely lowered to help the non-Malays move up the ladder. If that is true it would not be wrong to expect the standards to drop.
So many of the non-Malays now believe the standard of teaching has dropped tremendously in the national schools. They are also of the opinions that there is a drive to promote Islams. Plus many believe that discipline is stricter and standards are higher in the vernacular schools. Many also believe that students from the vernacular schools are more disciplined plus better in the Mathematics and sciences.
I believe the non-Muslims and I was told an increasing numbers of Malays are also sending their children to the vernacular schools especially the Chinese medium schools. Are these valid reasons for preferring the vernacular schools?
