Doesn’t matter if it’s black or white: Dirt still sticks

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik has announced that commencing 2019, black school shoes are in and white school shoes have been kicked out.

Given the divided opinions of this announcement, Dr Maszlee claimed that parents had requested for the school shoe colour change as white shoes soiled easily. But who are these parents? Do they account for the majority of school-going children to cause Dr Maszlee to make this knee-jerk announcement? It would be a paradox to assume that grime on black shoes is less visible as orange-earth clay and grey mud are just as noticeable on a black surface. It is plain stupidity to assume that grime on black shoes is cleaner than grime on white shoes, and less washing is needed. Further the purpose of white shoes is to inculcate a cleaner habit at school.     

How much significantly higher are the advantages of black shoes over white to warrant this “Ubah” disregarding the considerations that generations of Malayans and Malaysians have worn white school shoes for a valid purpose! Perhaps MoE should also “Ubah” white uniform shirts/blouses to black ones too. Aren’t we inculcating the basic values of cleanliness, civic mindedness etc through the schools by favouring white over black or is it more important to make it easy on the students by allowing them to cover dirt in black and going easy on them on cleanliness ?

Has Dr Maszlee considered which materials will be worn for the daily school footwear? Will it be canvass as currently used by school children for the white school shoes, or will it be leather or PVC? Was a committee set to study the pros and cons of white over black or was it just a knee jerking decision ?

What will factories and suppliers do with their excess stocks of white school shoes? It will be a loss for them if they cannot sell them by the end of this year? What is the rationale and how much consultations and studies have been done  before this decision was arrived at ? Are we going to allow hospital nurses nationwide to wear black soon? Or should we leave it to the nurses to wear white canvass shoes to purchase the deluge of balance stocks?

More important education issues which Dr Maszlee must focus on

There are more pressing issues at hand which the Education Ministry must address, namely the recognition of the United Examination Certificate as promised in the Pakatan Harapan Manifesto although Amanah leader Rais Hussin, who chaired PH’s manifesto committee now tries to sidetrack and delay its recognition by reminding that it is not among the pledges for the first 100-days. Likewise, the 10+6 SJKCs must be constructed to fulfil the needs of residential areas with a high Chinese populace.

Other education issues which MoE must address include wiping out school bullying and gangsters, or, ensuring that children living in remote interiors have access to school. Time and time again we read of native school children in Sabah and Sarawak having to walk 2 hours daily just to reach school, or simply not attending school at all.

Introducing a provision in the Education Act to make formal schooling compulsory for minor children is another area which MoE should address, in view of public outrage over the 41-year old Kelantanese marrying an underage bride. Studies have shown a tendency and trend among child brides of dropping out of school, and subject to domestic violence.

Dato’ Sri Ti Lian Ker
MCA Publicity Spokesman
MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Chairman

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