Smoke Screen of Malaysia's Education Policy
This inaugural issue of the Tamil Education Journal highlights the ongoing struggle for the recognition and rights of Tamil schools in Malaysia.
It features articles by scholars and activists exploring various aspects of Tamil education, including its history, challenges, and importance for the Tamil community.
The journal aims to raise awareness about these issues and encourage readers to engage in the fight for mother tongue education.
Highlights
- Policy and Politics: Articles discuss the limitations of the current education policy, the need for reform, and the political resistance to multilingualism.
- Impact on Students: Studies explore the effects of the language switch on academic performance and cultural identity of Tamil students.
- Community and Identity: Articles emphasize the importance of Tamil schools for preserving cultural heritage and fostering a sense of belonging.
- Historical Context: Pieces delve into the development of Tamil education in Malaysia and its role in social reproduction.
What's in the Journal?
- Smoke Screen of Malaysia’s Education Policy: Calls for reform and advocates for mother tongue education.
- The Plantation School as an Agent of Social Reproduction: Examines the role of plantation schools in perpetuating social inequalities.
- Tamil School Education in Malaysia: Unanswered Political Questions: Discusses the challenges faced by Tamil schools and the need for community action.
- The Creativity of Mother Tongue – The Tamil Language: Highlights the importance of preserving and enriching Tamil language.
- The Cry – The Implications of Teaching Mathematics and Science in English in Tamil Schools: Documents the opposition to the language switch policy.
- Performance of Indian students: It’s poverty, Not medium of Instructions: Analyzes the impact of the policy on academic performance and challenges the poverty argument.
- Tamil Vernacular Schools: Poor Schools – Marginalised Spaces: Discusses the marginalization of Tamil schools and calls for improvement initiatives.
This is just a glimpse into the content of the Tamil Education Journal Vol. I. To fully understand the complexities and nuances of the struggle for mother tongue education in Malaysia, we encourage you to download the full PDF.