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Constitution does not protect vernacular schools, says academic

Contrary to what is being touted by some political parties, vernacular schools are not protected by the Federal Constitution, said an eminent law professor. Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi from Universiti Teknologi Mara said while the constitution permits the learning of other languages, it does not say that the medium of instruction must also be in vernacular languages. "Contrary to the constitution, vernacular schools have become entrenched. "They are not protected by the constitution, but many political parties, to gain popularity, are saying this is in the Constitution," he said on the sidelines of a national unity conference yesterday. His statement comes amid calls to abolish Chinese schools made at the "red shirt" rally in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. It was reported that a banner with the words “Hapuskan SJKC” (abolish national-type Chinese schools) was among those held up at the rally. MCA Youth has lodged a police report over the banner which they claimed was seditious. Shad (pic, left) said that the reality was that vernacular schools were not the uniting factor but a dividing one. "If people don't learn together, they won't be able to live together. "And the statistics is very sad, 90% of Chinese are sending their children to vernacular schools," he added. Shad said vernacular languages should instead be promoted in national schools, and urged national schools to allow prayers of all faiths. "By all means, promote languages, I don't see why Tamil, Mandarin, Hokkien and others cannot be promoted in national schools. "I also don't see why national schools cannot have prayers other than reading the Quran. "Even in Islam, it says 'to you, your religion, to me, mine', so that is not a problem," he added. He said that he did not think Muslim children would get confused if the prayers of other faiths were said in schools. "I don't think we will get confused. "I know there are some people who are confused, who think everyone is as low as their level. "Our children don't get confused, we don't get confused," he said in jest. – September 17, 2015.