PPSMI: Government bars PIBG meeting

The parent-teacher associations or, in its Malay acronym PIBG, are very special-purpose amalgamation of parents whose children attend a particular school. The agenda of PIBG meetings range from the mundane to the minutiae. PIBGs are ever so grateful when a few crumbs are thrown by the Ministry of Education to their school. PIBGs are the fountain of funds from which teachers can do some of their school activities much better. It's all pastel-like and peachy almost all the time. This is the way it is when your children's interests are at stake.

In this context, when a PIBG wants to meet in order to canvass views on the teaching of Mathematics and Science in the English language (or PPSMI, to use the Malay acronym), how subversive is it to the Government? Is it wrong for parents to organise themselves and offer their views in a very considered and constructive manner?

Or, does the Government now believe that PIBGs have become a potential grouping that is subversive?

Will this be another Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde schizophrenic behaviour of the current Administration where one over-zealous lesser official such as, say, Rais Yatim, goes on an assault on the cyberspace and, the senior official then pulls back the assault as if it never took place?

 

I just want to say to no one in particular that one should always pick and choose the opponent and issue in any game. But, in the game of education, the last opponent one should choose are the parents, especially the PIBG. One cannot find a grouping that is more benign and law-abiding.