Allow PTAs to meet on science and maths

THE role of the parent-teacher association is tested more than ever now. Its main responsibility is to represent the interests of the parents of its school as far as the welfare of the students is concerned.
The issue of the teaching and learning of science and maths in English warrants just that. Being a national issue and having a direct impact on our children, parents as guardians to the largest stakeholders in the education system, the "rakyat", are being unjustly obstructed by the authorities to speak their mind on the issue at hand.
The prime minister had earlier stated that the government will listen to the "rakyat" on this issue. He is open to suggestions before its implementation in 2012.
There is a growing group of parents who want their children’s schools to be considered being given the exemption or option to retain the existing policy. Such an exemption – a good government initiative – will create a tremendous amount of goodwill and allay the anxiety of many parents.
The PTA constitution provides for the chairman, the committee members or the parents to compel the PTA to convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), subject to a minimum of seven days’ notice, to discuss a specific matter of importance.
However, in recent days, a number of PTAs, in several states, have had their desire to convene such meetings to address this issue stymied by either the principal of the school or the district education office. This is in contravention of the law that protects the rights of the parents, who are members, of the PTA.
As the registrar of the PTA, the director of the state education department, must ensure that the staff of district education offices do not interfere with PTAs wanting to exercise their legal rights. Principals should be advised and reminded of their roles as advisers to their PTAs and to not obstruct the voice of the parents who only want to do what is correct in accordance with the law, being civil and legal.
Parents are keen to speak and act on this important issue. A civil and legal avenue, such as through convening an EGM, exists but obstacles have been placed to inconvenience and disallow such a platform to be exercised.
If parents are not allowed to speak for their children on educational matters, legitimately through the PTA, where are we expected to go? Another public demonstration? At the next general election?
As much as we abhor public demonstrations, sometimes this appears to be the only way out for the "rakyat" to be seen and heard, as exemplified by recent public outcries.
We are civilised parents who want what we believe is best for our children and expect the Education Ministry to do the same. Therefore, allow PTAs to exercise their rights immediately.

Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim
Chair Parent Action Group for Education

tunku : let us all give our full support to PAGE which is headed by Datin Noor Azimah. This is for the future of our children. we are unlucky to have a deputy minister like puad zarkashi who is anti PPSMI before he was even made a deputy minister.he must have given all sort of nonsense feed back to muhyiddin yassin.let us the parents show to them that we want PPSMI and it is for us to decide for our children, not them.please visit PAGE.





video courtesy of PAGE