Parents' voice should be heard in education policies, says Page

SHAH ALAM - The influence of teachers as a significant voting bloc in education policies should be consistent with the needs and voices of parents, urged Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (Page).

Its chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the biggest challenge in the education system is politics, as ministers are afraid to make difficult decisions because teachers are perceived as an important and sizable voting bloc.

"Politics in education is one of the biggest challenges in the education system, as ministers are afraid to make difficult decisions.

"They forget that parents are a larger voting bloc than teachers.

"They also forget that teachers will 'follow orders' but may not 'carry out their duties with integrity'.

"Therefore, it is more important that the parental voice is heard and acted upon," she said told Sinar Daily recently.

Noor Azimah added that Page was on the science education committee of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia.

She said that Page had recommended inquiry-based science education (IBSE), or "la main à la pâte" as it is known worldwide, to the Education Ministry, which had piloted it in all schools.

"It proved to be a success and is now conducted in all schools.

"We recently called for a review of the practice of IBSE in schools to see how it can be reinforced, strengthened, improved, or if further support needs to be given," she said.

Noor Azimah said she became interested in education at the height of the debates on the policy of teaching and learning science and mathematics in English (PPSMI).

"Although there were individual parents who occasionally voiced out in support of the policy, there was no formal group representing parents who shared the same view.

"Page was formed in 2008 comprising the parents of SK Bukit Damansara.

"At the fourth roundtable on PPSMI, organised by the Education Ministry specifically for politicians, Page was invited to present our support for PPSMI.

"Surprisingly, we received a standing ovation. Page was registered as a national society in 2010.

"The council and committee comprises former parents of SK Bukit Damansara, SK Seri Hartamas and SK Taman Megah.

"We recently convened our 13th annual general meeting," she added.

Noor Azimah added that every student has potential and parents have aspirations for their children.

However, she said that parents cannot rely on teachers to achieve their aspirations for their children.

"Therefore, parents have to be involved in the education of their children, directly or indirectly.

"In fact, the Education Act 1996 states that 'pupils are to be educated according to the wishes of their parents', which already places the role of the parent on a pedestal," she said.