Racial integration starts in school

School must be a place to unite not divide the races

The gathering of some 300 religious leaders and representatives of various faith groups was indeed a historic moment and a positive development for inter-faith understanding in the country. Such joint activities augur well for the promotion of inter-faith understanding and harmony in our multiracial and multi-religious country. The Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry must be commended for organizing the event in conjunction with the 51st.merdeka celebrations.

The majority of Malaysians of all faiths would welcome Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s suggestion that such a gathering be held annually as part of the country’s National Day celebrations. He was absolutely right in saying that efforts must be made and opportunities sought among religious leaders to meet, eat at the same table as well as talk and exchange views.

In fact free inter-mingling among the various races should not be just restricted to a few hundred religious leaders once a year but extended to all citizens of all ages at all times. After more than half a century of sharing in the brotherhood of an independent nation, such a way of life where people of all races and religions can live, eat, work, play and even pray together should have become entrenched in the lives of all Malaysians. Unfortunately we are very far from that ideal situation and recent political trends indicate that on the contrary the people are more divided than integrated after all these years.

It is not the time to blame any particular party for the racially polarised situation we have today. It would be better for us to look into ways to improve the racial integration for the well being of the future. There is a need for genuine action on the part of all if we are sincere in wanting to promote better understanding among the people of various races and faiths. Half-hearted attempts as practiced now will not take us anywhere in this important task of uniting the people of diverse racial, cultural and religious backgrounds.

Racial and religious integration does not fall from the sky but must be cultivated to develop from a very early age. It must be actively promoted from the time a child goes to school. The children of all ages must be allowed to mingle freely without any prejudice or suspicion. Children regardless of their ethnicity are all innocent until we as parents and teachers impart our own prejudices, suspicion and fears onto them.

As the lessons on racial unity must start in schools, it is very important to ensure our schools are really tailored to unite the children of various races not divide them. The schools must be truly national in their outlook that must be secular and activities carried out therein should be multiracial. In order to do that there is a need to have diversity not only among the students but also among the teachers. Only by doing so can national schools be able attract the children from all races like the English medium schools of the sixties and seventies.

Our national schools have adopted a more religious outlook for the liking of many. Instead of having separate religious classes that could be held outside school hours it would be better for the common values promoted by all religions, love for fellow men regardless of ethnicity, to be in cooperated into the system to become the moral basis for all.

By promoting the universal values that are common to all faiths, one does not become a lesser Muslim,Christian,Hindu or Buddhist but a better human. Unless we become more human, there is no way we can cultivate the much needed mutual respect and love for those different from us.

Dr.Chris Anthony