ALOR SETAR; The proposal of the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) to standardise school uniforms is seen as helping to reduce the burden on parents in the B40 group.
National Parent, Community and Private Sector Schools Engagement (PIBKS) deputy chairman Zainol Abidin Mohamad, who is also the chairman of Kedah PIBKS, said his party welcomed MOE’s intention.
“The basic principles of education are equality, simplicity and a focus on learning, not differences in appearance. This approach is seen as capable of reducing the financial burden on parents, especially the B40 and M40 groups.
“It can also avoid unhealthy competition among students and restore the function of schools as a field for building character, knowledge and values, not a style display,” he said in a statement today.
He said, however, that the National PIBKS is of the view that its implementation must be done in stages, inclusively and in consultation by taking into account several aspects including the views of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG), the needs of students according to climate, comfort and health, and local socio-economic realities.
“PIBKS emphasises that parents are strategic partners in education, not just recipients of decisions. Therefore, any new policy should be implemented through meaningful engagement, so that the decisions taken truly bring benefits to children and do not add pressure to families.
“Our goal is not just the same uniform, but fair and dignified educational opportunities for all,” he said. – BERNAMA
