PETALING JAYA: Some parents have decided not to send their children to school during Palestine Solidarity Week over concerns of such programmes relating to conflicts in other countries.
Although it is not compulsory for schools to organise the event, they said they would monitor the children's schools.
A parent who only wanted to be known as Liew, 48, from Cheng in Melaka is upset that her Form Five daughter was questioned by her classmates about the matter.
Liew also expressed shock that some students were told to trample on country names or flags while the teachers were indifferent about it.
"I couldn't fully comprehend the complexity of the issue myself. If handled improperly, this could lead to further division in our society," she said.
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Liew and several other parents are planning to meet with the school principal to address these concerns.
"Our children should be able to focus on gaining knowledge and skills during their formative years at school.
"If such events continue, we will not send our kids to school. Ideologies, especially atrocities and war crimes should be left out of schools."
Another parent, Fatimah, 40, from Shah Alam in Selangor, shares similar concerns.
She believes that educating students about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict requires a comprehensive and balanced perspective.
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"While it's important to express solidarity with oppressed people and condemn wars, we shouldn't force our young children into taking a stance.
“I think my eight-year-old son is too young to comprehend this now. He can learn about it later when he is bigger,” she said.
On Oct 26, the Education Ministry announced that it would be holding a Palestine Solidarity Week from Oct 29 to Nov 3.
The event would involve all educational institutions under the ministry, including schools, vocational and matriculation colleges, as well as teacher training institutes nationwide.
The announcement has triggered debates and raised concerns, especially after a video clip depicting a man dressed as a militant and wielding a replica rifle during a school programme went viral on social media platforms, causing concern among parents and netizens.
In response, the ministry stated that it would not tolerate any elements of extremism and violence during the organisation of Palestine Solidarity Week at all institutions under its purview.
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Children psychologist and educationist Datuk Dr Chiam Heng Keng called for a ban on any form of politicking in schools and the exclusion of such topics from the curriculum.
"Schools should focus on instilling values like kindness, gratitude, harmony, self-control and respect, while actively discouraging hatred and violence.
"Children attend school to acquire knowledge and skills that will enable them to be effective citizens, not only in Malaysia but also as global citizens.
"The Israel-Palestine conflict is very complex. If world leaders can’t resolve the problem, can children truly comprehend the situation and make informed decisions?" she said.
Dr Chiam noted that the Education Ministry should clarify its primary role, noting its significant allocation in Budget 2024.
She also expressed concerns that most schools, excluding those in Sabah and Sarawak, may comply with ministry directives out of fear of consequences for non-compliance.
When asked, she said parents have the right to withhold their children from school if they perceive that the school's actions are detrimental to their character development.
"Their action is not a cause of concern, but the ministry," she added.
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Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (Page) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim agreed that parents have the right to voice their objections.
"As the event is now optional, the strength of parental objection can determine whether or not it is conducted and to what extent.”
She said that some schools have chosen not to hold the event or have minimised it due to parental objections.
"Parents through their PTAs should use this channel to voice out their concerns; not only on this matter but also on other issues," she said.
Noor Azimah suggested that schools collaborate with NGOs specialising in the topic to provide comprehensive and objective understanding to students and parents.
"If conducted properly, it will be educational. Call it Global Peace Week with reference to the ongoing war and the reasons for it.
“The ongoing war is over land, which should be emphasised, rather than one of religions," she said.
She noted that it was crucial to avoid blindly following the herd mentality and recognise that there is more to such conflicts than meets the eye.
"Wars are complex and multi-faceted, which explains why the history of conflicts needs to be understood, studied and analysed before a stand is to be made."
Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) Tan Sri TC Goh questioned the educational significance of the event and urged schools, particularly primary schools, to cancel it immediately.
"Major international conflicts, religious disputes and sovereignty issues are too heavy for primary school pupils and not urgent for them to comprehend," he said.
Instead, he said that cultivating patriotism would be a more suitable focus for primary school students.
He also said that some activities carried out by certain schools were inappropriate and not in line with the event's objectives.
While supporting the government's effort by sending peace troops to war zones with the help of the United Nations security forces, he believes that the Education Ministry should refrain from introducing such complex topics into schools.
"The students' lack of understanding of the topic and its history may lead to misunderstandings and conflicts," he said.
