Some parents have opted not to send their children to school during Palestine Solidarity Week due to concerns about programs related to conflicts in other countries. While it is not mandatory for schools to organize this event, these parents plan to closely monitor their children’s schools. One parent from Melaka, known as Liew, was upset when her Form Five daughter was questioned by classmates on the matter. Liew also expressed shock at some students being instructed to trample on country names or flags while the teachers showed indifference. She believes that mishandling this issue could further divide society. Liew and several other parents are planning to meet with the school principal to address these concerns. They believe that their children should focus on gaining knowledge and skills during their formative years and that ideologies, especially atrocities and war crimes, should not be introduced in schools.
Another concerned parent, Fatimah from Shah Alam, Selangor, shares similar worries. She believes that educating students about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict requires a comprehensive and balanced perspective. Fatimah thinks her eight-year-old son is too young to fully comprehend this issue and suggests teaching it later when he is older. On October 26, the Education Ministry announced the Palestine Solidarity Week from October 29 to November 3. This event would involve all educational institutions under the ministry, including schools, vocational and matriculation colleges, and teacher training institutes nationwide.
The announcement sparked debates and concerns after a video clip of a man dressed as a militant and wielding a replica rifle during a school program went viral on social media. In response, the ministry stated its intolerance for any elements of extremism and violence during the organization of Palestine Solidarity Week. 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. She believes that schools should focus on instilling values like kindness, gratitude, harmony, self-control, and respect, while actively discouraging hatred and violence.
Dr Chiam emphasizes that children attend school to acquire knowledge and skills that will enable them to be effective citizens, both in Malaysia and globally. The complexity of the Israel-Palestine conflict makes it difficult for children to comprehend and make informed decisions. Dr Chiam suggests that the Education Ministry clarifies its primary role, taking into account its significant allocation in Budget 2024. She also expresses concerns that most schools, excluding those in Sabah and Sarawak, may comply with ministry directives out of fear of consequences. Parents have the right to withhold their children from school if they perceive the school’s actions as detrimental to their character development.
Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, the chairman of the Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (Page), agrees that parents have the right to voice their objections. The strength of parental objections can determine whether or not the event is conducted and to what extent. Some schools have decided not to hold the event or have minimized its activities due to parental objections. Noor Azimah suggests that schools collaborate with NGOs specializing in this topic to provide comprehensive and objective understanding to students and parents. She believes that if conducted properly, an educational event focusing on global peace, the ongoing war, and its reasons would be beneficial. Noor Azimah emphasizes the importance of avoiding blindly following herd mentality and recognizing that there is more to conflicts like this than meets the eye.
Tan Sri TC Goh from the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) questions the educational significance of the event and urges schools, particularly primary schools, to cancel it immediately. He believes that major international conflicts, religious disputes, and sovereignty issues are too heavy for primary school students. Instead, Goh suggests cultivating patriotism as a more suitable focus for primary school students. He also criticizes certain schools for inappropriate activities that do not align with the objectives of the event. While Goh supports the government’s effort to send peace troops to war zones with the help of the United Nations security forces, he believes that introducing such complex topics into schools could lead to misunderstandings and conflicts due to students’ lack of understanding.
