SANDAKAN – Following a similar decision in Sarawak, the Education Ministry has now clarified that it is not mandatory for Sabah to conduct Palestine Solidarity Week activities in schools and other educational institutions within the state.
Luyang assemblyman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe confirmed that Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying informed him last night that schools in Sabah are not required to implement this directive.
“This matter has sparked controversy and opposition from various organisations and non-governmental organisations in Sabah. As an elected representative, I am also strongly concerned about this issue,” Phoong said in a statement today.
Phoong, who is also Sabah industrial development and entrepreneurship minister, said the Education Ministry and the government should keep all schools and educational institutions in Malaysia away from international political conflicts, religious disputes, and wars.
“Students should attend school to acquire knowledge and not to be involved in adult protests around the world. Young students should not be dragged into the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
“The Education Ministry should encourage schools to teach the importance of peace instead of involving children, who lack the capacity for judgement, in complex political manoeuvres,” he said.
Earlier, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said that Lim had confirmed that the Palestine Solidarity Week was not compulsory in Sarawak’s schools, adding that such activities should be discouraged not only in Sabah but across the entire nation.
Phoong said that while he acknowledges the unity government’s support for Palestine, he strongly believes that underage students should not participate in any form of political activity, especially those involving conflicts abroad, as such involvement could negatively impact the physical, mental, and spiritual development of underage students.
Earlier today, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation youth chief Felix Joseph Saang urged the Education Ministry to reconsider the directive for schools to observe solidarity week activities.
He said deep concerns have been raised within the public, particularly among parents, regarding the potential impact on children exposed to elements of violence within the school environment.
“We should educate our students to pray for peace. Solidarity through prayer is more meaningful.
“Such a programme is also touching on the sensitive issue of religions among our multiracial and religious citizens,” he said in a statement.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said programmes promoting solidarity with under-siege Palestine in schools must be properly managed.
He said this when commenting on recent reports that some school students and teachers had waved around toy guns as part of solidarity programmes with Palestinians.
While it remains unclear which schools the programmes took place in, or if they are related to the Education Ministry’s Palestine Solidarity Week initiative, netizens have expressed concern over the videos.
A circular issued by the Education Ministry on October 21 declared October 29 to November 3 as Palestine Solidarity Week and directed all educational institutions under the ministry – including schools, vocational colleges, matriculation colleges, and teacher’s training institutes in the country – to conduct the programme.
Several academicians previously contacted by Scoop regarding the ministry’s move to initiate the solidarity programme expressed mixed responses to the decision.
Yesterday, the Education Ministry said the Palestine Solidarity Week was aimed at nurturing empathy and enlightening students who had been exposed to news on the humanitarian crisis resulting from the war waged by Israel on Palestine. – October 27, 2023