We know that Tamil schools in Malaysia were established 100 years ago. Since then it has been witnessing a lot of changes in providing quality education to the children especially to those from low income families. Although Tamil schools were established by the British for children from estates, initially to attract labourers to stay back for a longer periods, as time passed by, they have gradually transformed into centres for education. Like other schools, Tamil school also follows the national syllabii and all rules and regulations stipulated by the Malaysian Education Ministry.
We cannot deny that Tamil schools safeguard our culture and language. It is also a place for Tamil speaking children to learn about their own culture and values thus enhancing their skills in learning. Even the UNESCO reports say that medium of instruction at the primary level should be in the child‘s mother tongue as it plays an important role in enhancing the child’s potential.
Another interesting and exclusive feature of Tamil schools is that the Indian children especially those from low income familes receive more love and care from the teachers. The parents and students also feel very comfortable with Tamil school teachers. Furthermore, many parents are unable to speak proper Malay. This makes it difficult for them to communicate with Non Indian teachers in National schools.
Many say that Tamil language has no economic value or it has very few job opportunities. In reality, students are taught their own language not to secure a job, but to instill cultural values and facilitate the processes of teaching and learning. It is not implied that learning Malay or English or any other language, for that matter, promises employment. It is up to the individual how he/she acquires the knowledge and effectively puts it into practice .
After six years of primary education, the Tamil school students are integrated in the secondary schools. There, they learn everything in languages, other than Tamil. This goes on to prove that these students not only have the capacity to learn through other languages but also have the potential to perform well in their studies. So I don’t see the rationale behind the arguement on ‘job opportunities’. Language is a tool to acquire knowledge and not to secure a job. If a person knows more languages, he/she can acquire more knowledge by reading the materials available in the those languages.
I know a lot of professionals who had received primary education in Tamil schools. They became professionals not because of Tamil language, but because of the knowledge that they acquired through education. Mother tongue education helped them broaden their minds and strengthen their belief systems.
There are many educated parents and professionals who send their children to Tamil schools. They are aware the of importance of keeping our culture alive although we are in a globalised world. They feel that besides preserving the mother tongue, acquiring the knowledge and cultural values are paramount.
It is true that there were many dilapidated Tamil schools 10-15 years ago. There were also other schools that were dilapidated during same period. Nowadays, we have many Tamil schools with the latest teaching and learning facilities. If the educated parents send their children to Tamil schools, I am sure their children will also perform well. What I am trying to say is, the type of school does not really matter, what really matters is how the parents educate their children and bring them up in the society.
It is also inappropriate to say that we are keeping our children in the dark. Children from tamil schools are well exposed to other languages besides Tamil. There is a lot of importance given to Malay and English in Tamil schools. Furthermore, Tamil school students do better in English than Malay. That is the reason why the govenment’s move to teach Mathematics and Science in English was welcomed by Tamil schools.
In the democratic country the parents have the right to decide which school their children must attend. Normally, parents send their children to schools which they find more comfortable for both themselves and their children. More than 50 % of the Indian parents feel very comfortable with Tamil schools, and therefore send their children there. Others feel national school is more comfortable.
The same applies to politicians. We should be grateful to the politicians who are executing their responsibilities in providing the best for Tamil school children. Respecting the parents’ interest towards Tamil school, the politicians take initiatives to provide all the facilities to Tamil school. We must understand that they are not in any way obliged to send their children to Tamil schools. No one is, for that matter!
In brief, Tamil school is a constitutional right granted to the Indians in this country. Therefore it is considered unscrupulous to hurt the feelings of parents who send their children to Tamil schools. We should, instead, respect the trust and confidence they have placed on Tamil schools in shaping their children’s future. And as long as there is demand for Tamil schools and continued progress among the students, the Tamil school will stay on. Let us give our support to these schools.
source : www.yss98.com
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