KUALA LUMPUR: Teachers will always be professional and objective during lessons, including topics related to the general election, says Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying.
"As to whether or not teachers will influence the students (politically), our answer is no.
"During the teaching and learning (PdP) of History, as with all subjects, teachers conduct their lessons in an objective manner including on the general election.
"Our teachers have been trained to have integrity and remain objective and will not try to influence students in terms of political understanding," she said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng (BN-Tanjung Piai).
Dr Wee had asked the ministry to reveal the measures it had taken to ensure that teachers will not use any platforms to influence the minds of students with certain sentiments to get them to vote for certain political parties.
Lim said the ministry has given supplementary assistance to help teachers conduct lessons on topics like the general election in the best way possible.
"Aside from that we also have videos on DidikTV and the ministry had broadcast topics specifically on the general election," she added.
To the initial question, Lim said the topic of the general election was specifically in the History subject while elements related to the conducting of the polls was in Civics education and other areas of the curriculum.
"As part of the effort to build students' character as responsible citizens who love the nation, pupils at primary level are taught about matters related to the Federal Constitution and the responsibility of citizens.
"In line with the level of education and age, students at secondary level are exposed more in-depth to politics as well as national and world history, national heritage and nation building," she said.
This was to ensure that students understand their responsibility and role as citizens, she noted.
