Primary school imposes Arabic lessons on pupil against parents’ wishes

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Primary school imposes Arabic lessons on pupil against parents’ wishes


Father laments over unclear directives, blame-shifting when he confronted institution

A Malaysian father has lambasted a primary school for imposing Arabic language lessons, which are optional according to the Education Ministry, on his daughter on the basis of not having enough teachers to supervise students who opt out of the subject. – The Vibes file pic, October 1, 2022



KUALA LUMPUR – A primary school pupil at a national school was allegedly made to attend classes for Arabic language (Bahasa Arab), which is optional, and sit for its examination – despite her parents having already stipulated their choice for the child not to undertake the subject.


Speaking to The Vibes on condition of anonymity, the Malaysian father shared his baffling experience with the school authorities, claiming that they had acted against the written wishes of the parents.

Adam (not his real name) recalled his confusion when his daughter Sara (not her real name) returned home from school one day with a graded Arabic examination paper although he had already informed the school that his daughter will not be taking up the subject.

“At the start of the schooling year, I had submitted a form (provided by the school) indicating that I am not interested in having my daughter take up any of the three optional language classes,” he said, referring to Arabic, Mandarin and Tamil language subjects.


When I asked Sara why she had sat for the exam, she said that the teacher in charge (of the exams) had told her to just do the test since there was an extra paper.”

Besides Arabic language, students are also given the option to study Mandarin and Tamil. It is understood that students can even opt to not take on any of the three subjects offered, which is the call Adam made for his daughter.

“It is not that I am against any particular language, but I was very clear from the start that I do not want Sara to take up the subject as I would have to spend time and effort to tutor her and make sure she excels (in the language),” he said.

The matter was further confounded by an ostensible miscommunication between the teachers and administrators of the school, with Adam alleging that the schoolmaster had issued misleading directives to the teachers.

Adam said that Sara’s class teacher, when approached for clarification on the situation, appeared to be equally confused and asserted that she was made to understand that all pupils were supposed to undergo the Arabic lessons.

“Even the schools’ assistant principal said that the Arabic language is a compulsory subject that must be studied by all students,” he said, questioning the teachers’ assertions as they appear to make obsolete the earlier mentioned form.

He added that when he proceeded to raise the issue to the head of the school, the headmaster had initially responded by “passing the blame” and stating that the decision to have Sara sit for the Arabic exam had been a ministerial directive.

“However, he later admitted that he was the one who had communicated to the teachers that every student should sit in for the Arabic language classes,” Adam said.


Can the headmaster do such a thing? Does he have permission to act on behalf of parents without their consent?

“The schools’ system (appears to have) no check and balance measures in place,” he lamented.

He added that the headmaster also attempted to justify his stand by claiming that there were not enough teachers on hand to accompany students who had opted out of the class.

“He (the headmaster) said that if my daughter is sent to the library during Arabic lessons and something were to happen to her it would not be the responsibility of school authorities,” he said.

Adam also said the headmaster had claimed that Mandarin and Tamil language courses were no longer offered in the school due to inadequate students signing up for the subjects, alleging that a minimum of 30 students are needed to arrange lessons.

School should honour parents’ choice

When contacted, Parent Action Group for Education (Page) president Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim pointed out that the minimum number of students needed to conduct a class has been 15 “for a long time now”.

Noor Azimah also told The Vibes that the circulation of the forms mentioned “implies that the headmaster should honour the wishes (of parents)”.

“The preamble of the Education Act 1996 states that pupils are to be educated in accordance with the wishes of the parents,” she said.

She also suggested that schools ensure a librarian is in attendance during scheduled periods to keep an eye on students not involved in certain classes.

Noor Azimah labelled the incident a “solitary case”. Adam, however, had claimed that he has heard of parents from other national schools experiencing similar troubles,

According to a circular issued by the director-general of the Education Department in May 1998, national schools must offer Arabic language as a subject if there are 15 or more students interested in learning it.

“A written letter of permission from the parents or guardian must be obtained before the concerned student participates in the Arabic language class,” said the then director-general Datuk Abdul Shukor Abdullah in the circular issued on May 2, 1998.

Meanwhile, National Parent-Teacher Association Consultative Council president Assoc Prof Datuk Mohamad Ali Hasan said that parents in similar situations should advance the matter to government authorities if discussions with school officials do not provide satisfactory answers.

“It is possible that a student is actually interested in a subject, but parents do not agree with their (student’s) choice. There might also be unavoidable technical issues,” he said when contacted for comments on the issue by The Vibes. – The Vibes, October 1, 2022