Chinese educationist group Dong Jiao Zong is urging other Chinese groups to register their interest in attending its rally against the introduction of Jawi lessons in vernacular schools.

It cited a shortage of time before the rally takes place at the New Era College in Kajang on Dec 28.

“The Chinese Organisations Congress is a joining of forces to safeguard the sovereignty of the schools’ board of governors.

“It is also a call to the government to hear the voice of the people and cancel the introduction of Jawi lessons in the Bahasa Malaysia subject for national-type schools,” it said in a statement in Mandarin that was issued yesterday.

Interested groups can register via Dong Zong’s website, or by contacting Dong Zong by phone or email.

“It is to show the Chinese community’s determination on the matter and show the community’s strength, voices and hopes so as to draw the government’s attention and resolve the problem.

“At the same time, the congress will invite representatives from Tamil educationist groups. To ensure the smooth running of the congress, no placards, banners or propaganda materials are allowed,” it said.

Previously, Dong Jiao Zong criticised the Education Ministry’s guidelines for implementing the Jawi lessons, one of which stipulates that parent-teacher associations (PTAs) are to send out a survey to parents to decide whether to introduce the lessons in their schools.

If at least a simple majority of parents agree, then lessons comprising three pages in the Standard Four textbooks would be taught.

Dong Jiao Zong collectively refers to the United Chinese Schools Teachers' Association (Jiao Zong) and the United Chinese School Committees' Association (Dong Zong).

At a joint meeting they held on Dec 12, the two associations summarised their stance on the Jawi lessons as the “Three Don’ts” – Don’t accept, don’t agree, don’t implement Jawi implementation guidelines.

It also urged school boards, PTAs and state-level Dong Zong units to return the Education Ministry guidelines to the ministry as a sign of protest, in addition to attending the congress and holding a petition campaign.

The Federation of Chinese Associations (Hua Zong) has said that it would attend the congress.

For the record, Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching has denied that the ministry’s guidelines on the use of Jawi in Bahasa Malaysia textbooks would sideline the school boards’ decision-making powers over their own schools.

Instead, Teo said, the ministry is merely prioritising the views of the pupils’ parents.

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