Racial disparity among teachers

Political will needed to correct racial disparity

I refer to your report Racial disparity 'hinders national integration' (NST,April 21).

Many concerned Malaysians would give a sigh of relief reading the statement by Education Minister,Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein that imbalance between Malay and non-Malay teachers in schools is undermining national integration.

We are glad that the Education Ministry is working towards an equitable ratio to change the image of national schools as being Malay-dominated and national-type schools as the domain of non-Malays.

As the Education Minister acknowledges schools should have a conducive and balanced environment and the ministry must have the political will to handle this well and not make it a racial issue.

We are waiting with great hope for Datuk Seri Hishammuddin and his team Datuk Hon Choon Kim and P. Komala Devi to successfully enforce the political will at all levels of the ministry to correct this racial imbalance of teachers.

One of the main reasons for the development of racial intolerance is the existence of overwhelming majority of a particular race in an organization. This is a normal phenomenon that exists in every human society.

The racial prejudice and intolerance in any society can be greatly diluted by ensuring a racially balanced population in that society. Mere presence of other races in sufficient numbers would make one be more cautious of his word and deeds regarding them. They would become more sensitive to the feelings and sentiments of those of a different culture.

We have witnessed this phenomenon in our own society. Most Malaysians will agree that there was more ethnic and religious tolerance in the sixties and over the years it has eroded slowly but surely. The schools and civil service then had a balanced ratio of the various races all going about their jobs harmoniously.

Today we seem to be happy to stay isolated helping and interacting within our own communities. Our children hardly work and play together as Malaysians. This unfavorable situation has to change and it has to start early in school.

Hishammuddin and his team have a monumental task ahead to redirect the education system in right direction towards fostering racial integration and tolerance in our schools. The first step in this endeavor is to correct the racial disparity of teachers and students in all our schools. We hope they have the political will to persevere until they succeed.

Dr.Chris Anthony