The Malaysian Insight

CHINESE and Tamil education groups have agreed to allow khat calligraphy to be taught to Year 4 pupils after a dialogue today with Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching.

“We have agreed that it is not a problem to introduce khat writing. The intention is to introduce the art of khat calligraphy and not to learn Jawi,” Teo said after the meeting at the Education Ministry in Putrajaya.

“We also agree that while introducing khat writing, the students will not be tested. This is the stand of the NGOs, and the ministry agrees.”

Dong Zong, Jiao Zong, Tamil Foundation and Gabungan Pertubuhan Cina Malaysia were among the groups to meet with Teo.

Dong Zong is an association of Chinese school committees while Jiao Zong is an association of Chinese school teachers. These two, along with Tamil groups, had initially opposed the teaching of khat in vernacular schools.

“I think we have cleared the (air) today, we have consensus. There is no doubt,” Teo said.

She called the dialogue today “meaningful” and said that all present had agreed that the ministry should continue to engage the vernacular groups on the Standard Curriculum and Assessment Document (DSKP) for Bahasa Melayu.

The DSKP for BM was revised to include khat by the ministry under the previous Barisan Nasional government.

Teo said the ministry would also continuously improve the BM DSKP to help educators teach the subject.  – August 6, 2019.