According to Pusat Komas, a human rights organization, schools ought to teach diversity classes and give students access to books about the topic.
Ryan Chua, the group’s program director, stated that to reduce hostility in a time when racial and religious differences can be leveraged to deceive people, Malaysia needs to raise a generation of citizens who are more accepting of and knowledgeable about one another.
He said that Sweden and New Zealand are two nations that have effectively encouraged children’s unity and cultural understanding. According to him, New Zealand adopted Maori language and culture to promote respect and understanding of indigenous customs, whereas Sweden embraced cultural diversity into its national curriculum.
His remarks follow Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil’s recommendation that kids be exposed to the culture of reading, particularly through novels that highlight the variety of Malaysia’s ethnic and religious groups.
Chua stated that stringent laws that forbid “little napoleons” from upsetting unity are necessary for the government to show its commitment to the cause.
Malaysia has to stop making token attempts and start having conversations to increase understanding of different cultural customs. Then and only then, he added, will we be able to raise an informed generation that values diversity.
T Marimuthu, a former education professor at Universiti Malaya, stated that the Ministry of Education and Schools should make sure that the school curriculum and textbooks reflect the diversity of Malaysian society.
Furthermore, he said that stereotypes about various racial or religious groups in the nation should never exist. If not, kids who graduate from elementary or secondary schools will have a stereotyped perspective on other populations.
Thus, the curriculum, textbooks, and the function of the school are crucial in this situation. He stated that representations of many ethnic groups must be realistic, balanced, and truthful. Marimuthu stated that in addition to encouraging students to sit in diverse groupings during class, teachers should receive cultural training to increase their sensitivity to various ethnic groups. He remarked that in order for the general public to have a better understanding of a multicultural society, parents play a critical role in instilling in their children a love of reading from a young age.
Source : FMT
