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PERPUSTAKAAN NEGARA MALAYSIA
EDUCATION FOR UNITY
IN MALAYA
An Evaluation of the Educational System of Malaya with Special Reference to the Need for Unity
in its Plural Society
By
HO SENG ONG M.A. (Lond.) ED.D. (Denver)
Educational Secretary, Methodist Schools, Malaya, and Principal, Anglo-Chinese School, Penang
Issued under the auspices of the MALAYAl'IJ EDUCATOR and P ublished by the Malayan Teachers' Union,
2 Mandalay Road, Penang, Malaya.
PERPUSTAKAAN NEGARA MALAYSIA
TABLE OF -CONTENTS CHAPTER
I INTRODUCTION
What is wrong \vith Malaya
Shortcomings of Malayan _education
The statement of the problem
The limit..'l.tions of the study
Definitions of terms
The methods employed
Sources of materials
The importance of the stud~r
Its otganization
II THE MALAYA~~ SETTING
~he Geography of ~Ialaya
World and regional relations
Its economic development
The plural communities
Politics and Policy
The Aborigines
The M.alays
The Chinese
'fhe Indians
The Eurasians
The Europeans
The Others
Summary
III nn·; MALAYAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM A short historical survey
Types of schools _
The Vernacular Schools
The Malay Schools
.PAGE
1
2
4
7
9
9
10
11
13
13
15
18
21
22
24
27
29
30
32
35
36
36
37
37
38
39
45
47
47
PERPUSTAKAAN NEGARA MALAYSIA
CHApTER
The Chinese Schools
The Indian schools"
The English S~hod1s''-' : ' ;,'
Types of ' sCh~~is
'3
..... :-0
.. '.; Boys and girls schools
. '.~. ' .
", RAGE
GO
63
6G
70
Primary and sec-:mdary schools " 75 - .; Vocational schools ..
: ; .... -. ~. ." .;.:::.:' Post-secondary cd~lcatjon
Teacher-training
Summary
..... .' .~ . ' ~. ', ' : .. .... !" ~
• ' ,' ,' - /. - ~' .J . ~ .. ::: ~
78
78
81
82
IV DOES THE MALAYAN " . r:DUCATION~ ~ POLICY AND PRACTICE MEET THE 'NEED FOli' UNITY ,. 8-i
Malaya's major proh'leit; .. ·,·, .- 85
The pre-1942 educational 'polic'y' .-. ~: . , 85
Malay schools and Mal~y interests ,: .: :- 88
The lack of a Malayan 'OUtl~OK in tiie Chinese and Indian schools '. '. , 89
English schools and Malaya~ .. i~terests ' 90
Sir Richard Winstedt's recent views ,,' 92
Replies to the questionnaicre . :from, former Malayan educators " 96
The new educational policy 100
Important changes 103
The extension of English instruction in the Primary schools 104
Restrictions on EngHsh education: no't justified 105
History repeats itself lOG
The Singapore amendment 108
What former Malayan educators think of the new policy 110
PERPUSTAKAAN NEGARA MALAYSIA
xii CHAPTER PAGE
IV (Continued)
Post-Primary schools in the new educational setup.. 114
Other features 117
Summary 118
V A PROPOSED PL.~~ OF EDUCATION FOR UNITY IN THE :MALAYAN PLURAL SOCIETY 120
GC'Ileral principles 121
Free primary schools 124
Post-primary schools 125
Post-secondary education, including teacher-training institutions 126
Further education 129
Stages in the development of the policy 129
Co-operation of voluntary agencies 131
Finance 131
Summary 133
VI SOl\IE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED PLAN OF EDUCATION 135
The goal of Malayan unity 136
Education for social cohesion 140
The choice of English as the lingua franca 146
The place of the D1
xili
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE
I The Population according to the Main Racial Divisions in the Federation and Singapore, 1931
PAGE
and 1947 25
II Percentage of Population Enrolled in all Schools by Races «
111 Malay Schools-Number of Pupils 47
IV Malay Schools-Scholars by Schools Years 48
V Chinese Schools-Number of Pupils 54
VI Chinese Schools-Scholars by School Years 55
VII Chinese Schools-Students in the Post-Primary School 55
VIII Chinese Schools-Type of Management, Number of Schools, Teachers and Pupils 56
IX Indian Schools-Number of Pupils 60
X Indian Schools-Scholars by School Years 60
XI Indian Schools-Type of Management, Number of Schools, Teachers and Pupils in the Federation 61
XII Indian Schools-Type of Management, Number of Schools, Teachers and Pupils in Singapore 61
XIII English Schools-Number of Students, (Primary and Post-Primary) 64
XIV English Schools-Type of Management, Number of Schools, Teachers and Pupils 65
XV English Schools-Racial Distribution of Students 66
XVI Post Secondary, Teacher Training Institutions, Vocational Schools and Number of Students .. .79
PERPUSTAKAAN NEGARA MALAYSIA
xiv
LIST OF FIGURES FigUl'es
1. Malaya-pre-1942 and Post-War Political Units
2 Racial Distribution in the Federation, the Colony of
Singapore, and a ll Malaya
:~ Increase in Population of the Major Racia l Groups in the
F ederation, 1921-1947
4 Increasc in Population of the Majol' Racial Groups in I
Malaya, 1921-1947
5 Increase in Population of the Major Racial Groups in
(j
7
8
9
J.O
Singapore, 1921-1947
The Educational Systcm of Malaya, 1947
Number of Pupils in t.he Federation Schools, 1950
Number of Pupils in the Singapore Schools, 1950
The Federation English Schools (1947 and
Goyel'nmcnt, Aidcd and Privatc, Boys and
Separately ShO\nl
Thc F deration English Schools (1947 and
Govcnmlellt, Aided and Private-all pupils
11 Sillgapore English Schools (1947 and 1950)
GoYcl'nmcnt, Aided and Private-all pupils
1950)
Girls
1950)
Page
20
26
28
31
36
57
68
69
72
73
74
PERPUSTAKAAN NEGARA MALAYSIA
"
'CHAPTER J
INTRODUCTION
•
y 00 teachers render to this republic' the prime, the vital " service of amalgmnatmg into one homogeneous body ·the children ' of those who are bom here and of those who · come here from so many different lands abroad. You ' furnish a common training and common ideals for the
. -children Of all the mixed peoples who are here -being fUSed into one nationality. -
~Theodore- Rooseveltl
While it is true that, prior to the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, Malaya had "not risen to the dignity of a Problem"£ because it was blessed with economic-prol'lperity and ' peaceam~ng
1. .' Theodore -Rooseveft, -in address before the ' National Education Association meeting, .19.05, Quoted ' in Expressions on Education by Build"rs of American Democracy, Bulletin,. 1940, No. 10, p. 45._
2. Lennox A. Mills, British Rule in Eastern Asia, p. 1.
PERPUSTAKAAN NEGARA MALAYSIA
its mixed population, it is equally true that the country today reveals "in most acute forms the problem of plural societies,"3 not to mention the many difficulties arising from the disastrous consequences of the Japanese occupation period. Many writers and speakers have correctly diagnosed the country's ills; a few excerpts will help to focus attention on th~ major needs of the post-war Malaya.
What is wrong with Malaya? Dr. Rupert Emerson of Harvard who has shown much interest in Malayan affairs, espe-cially the political aspects of the British rule, has recently offered this criticism: "Malaya is the example par excellence of Furnivall's plural society, and that exceedingly little has been done under British rule to bridge the gap between the races and classes."4 Virginia Thompson sees, in the inglorious defence of Malaya, the failure on the part of the British to weld the Malayan peoples into a nation for she says, "The single tie that bound Malaya together was the economic motivation of all her r esidents except the Malay component . .. .. . this common economic factor had not provided a national life in the real sense of the word."5
On the other side of the Atlantic the English themselves expressed the same c~emnation. The writer in "The Observer" makes this pronouncement: "We must builQ Malaya into a nation. Hitherto we have done nothing quite so positive; . . . . .. What we have not done is to try to break down "plural" communities into a single community with a conscious sense of national unity."6 The influential Association of British Malaya in London went on record to t his effect: "The Malayan mainland should be constituted into one political and economic entity and t hat the domiciled inhabitants of Malaya must assume a greatly
11. 7. 3. Marjorie Nicholson, Self-Government and the Communal Problem,
4. Rupert Emerson, Pacific Affairs, 19: 433. December, 1946. 5. Virginia Thompson, Postmortem on Malaya, p. 15. 6. "Talks on the Future in British Malaya," Crown Colonist, 12: 276,
May. 1942.
PERPUSTAKAAN NEGARA MALAYSIA
3
increased share in the government -and administration 'Of the .country. ' ...... Every effort must. be ~ade to develop a sense of pan-Malayan . citizenship on tp.e partof.··aU domici1~ races."? His Majesty's Government, usually silent on the .larger question of policy, referred to the divided and separatist features of t~e pre-war system of government ' in ~Ialayaand the "need -:.to promote the sense of unity and common citizenship .... Our policy will call for a constitutional union of Malaya and for the institution of a Malayan citizenship which will give equal citizen-ghip rights ·to those who can claim Malaya' to be their home-land."8.
Not all these criticisms have emanated from outside of Malaya. Dr. Victor Purcell who returned to Malaya after the liberation to head the Department of Chinese Affairs has given his opinion that the country ought to be developed "on a basis of unity rather than diversity, ·to move more rapidly to the development of that strength, self-reliance, and c~mmon purpose for the promotion of self-government through nationwide insti-tutions in which the whole community can participate."9 Gerald Hawkins of the Malayan Civil Service and closely associated with the local peoples (Co-operative and Welfare Departments) has indicated the same failings of the past! Till the Japanese occupation, he writes, "there was harmony but not much unity .... many regarded Malaya not as the object of their loyalties but as the source of their royaltles."lo Mr. Tan Cheng Lock, now Sir Tan Cheng Lock, and for 'many years the distinguished leader of the Chinese, has reiterated the urgent need to develop .the s-ense of Pan-Malayan citizenship among all communities; he puts this tersely-we n~ed "a united Malaya within the British
7. "Reconstruction of Malaya," Crown Colonist, 13: 690, October, 1943. 8. Sir Harold Macmichael, Report on a Mission to Malaya, p. 3.
Quotes statement made by the Secretary of State f\)r the Colonies to Parliament on 10th October, 1946.
9. Victor Purcell, "The Proposed New: Constitution", Pacific Affairs, 19: 30, March, 1946 .
.10. Gerald Hawkins, "Marking Time in Malaya" International Affairs, 24: 78, January, 1948.
PERPUSTAKAAN NEGARA MALAYSIA
Cover PageTitle PageFOREWORDPREFACETABLE OF CONTENTSLIST OF TABLESLIST OF FIGURESCHAPTER I INTRODUCTIONWhat is wrong with MalayaShortcomings of Malayan educationThe statement of the problemThe limitations of the studyDefinitions of termsThe methods employedSources of materialsThe importance of the studyIts organization
CHAPTER II THE MALAYAN SETTINGThe Geography of MalayaWorld and regional relationsIts economic developmentThe plural communitiesPolitics and PolicyThe AboriginesThe MalaysThe ChineseThe IndiansThe EurasiansThe EuropeansThe Others
Summary
CHAPTER III THE MALAYAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMA short historical surveyTypes of schoolsThe Vernacular SchoolsThe Malay SchoolsThe Chinese SchoolsThe Indian schools
The English SchoolsTypes of schoolsBoys and girls schoolsPrimary and secondary schools
Vocational schoolsPost-secondary educationTeacher-training
Summary
CHAPTER IV DOES THE MALAYAN EDUCATIONAL POLICY AND PRACTICE MEET THE NEED FOR UNITYMalaya's major problemThe pre-1942 educational policyMalay schools and Malay interestsThe lack of a Malayan outlook in the Chinese and Indian schoolsEnglish schools and Malayan interestsSir Richard Winstedt's recent viewsReplies to the questionnaire from former Malayan educators
The new educational policyImportant changesThe extension of English instruction in the Primary schoolsRestrictions on English education: not justifiedHistory repeats itselfThe Singapore amendmentWhat former Malayan educators think of the new policyPost-Primary schools in the new educational setupOther features
Summary
CHAPTER V A PROPOSED PLAN OF EDUCATION FOR UNITY IN THE MALAYAN PLURAL SOCIETYGeneral principlesFree primary schoolsPost-primary schoolsPost-secondary education, including teacher-training institutionsFurther educationStages in the development of the policyCo-operation of voluntary agenciesFinanceSummary
CHAPTER VI SOME IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED PLAN OF EDUCATIONThe goal of Malayan unityEducation for social cohesionThe choice of English as the lingua francaThe place of the mother tongue and bilingualismAdditional views from replies to the questionnaireSummary
CHAPTER VII SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONSCHAPTER VIII RECENT DEVELOPMENTSNOTES ON REFERENCESBIBLIOGRAPHYAPPENDIX
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