Issue at SK St Thomas in Kuching settled, says head of Anglican Mission Schools

The Education Department officers and the administration of SK St Thomas in Kuching have come to a harmonious resolution regarding the school’s initial refusal to hold a khatam Al-Quran event for Year Six Muslim pupils.

The president of Anglican Mission Schools, Datuk Danald Jute, stated that the event will now be held at a nearby hotel due to the lack of a suitable space within the school premises.

During the meeting, it was communicated that the school felt “uncomfortable” about holding the event in the ill-equipped open-air school hall, a sentiment which was understood and accepted by the Education Department officers.

The school initially offered the prayer room as an alternative, but the organizing committee deemed it too small. As a result, the decision was made to use the nearby Merdeka Palace Hotel for the ceremony.

The issue gained attention after the leaked letter conveying the decision not to allow the event at the school spread on social media, leading to criticism and calls for clarification.

Danald clarified that accusations of discrimination or prejudice were unfounded, emphasizing the school’s commitment to unity, harmony, and understanding.

The internal memo between the diocesan education officer and school headmaster being leaked was condemned as irresponsible, particularly due to the ethical use of social media by civil servants.

Anglican mission schools were mentioned to have no issue with curriculum-related activities and have been supportive of extracurricular activities involving Muslim students.

SK St Thomas has a long-standing tradition of contributing towards a united, harmonious, and cohesive nation, especially within Sarawak where mutual understanding and respect are common among people from diverse backgrounds.

To prevent future misunderstandings, Danald reiterated that SK St Thomas has its own ethos and character as a mission school, allowing the school board of management to refuse the use of school premises for any purpose deemed incompatible with the school’s identity.