Tapah MP M. Saravanan urges the Education Ministry to maintain 12 weekly Tamil language periods, saying mother tongue education is vital to cultural identity.
PETALING JAYA: MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has urged the Education Ministry to retain the existing 12 weekly Tamil language teaching periods in Tamil national-type schools (SJK(T)), objecting to a proposed reduction under the 2027 curriculum restructuring.
Saravanan, who is also Tapah MP, said he had written to Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek to express his strong opposition to the proposed reduction from 12 to 10 periods a week.
He stressed that Tamil schools played a crucial role in preserving the language, cultural identity and heritage of the Tamil community in Malaysia.
“Mother tongue education goes beyond basic daily communication. It forms the essential foundation for shaping a student’s intellect, emotional development, core values and cultural identity during their formative years,” he said in a statement today.
He said a copy of the letter had also been sent to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, reflecting concerns raised by teachers, parents, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and the wider Indian community.
Saravanan said existing mother tongue teaching hours should not be reduced to accommodate new subjects or syllabus modules.
While expressing support for the Education Ministry’s proposed Character Building module, he suggested incorporating its content into existing Moral Education periods instead.
“This would allow character building to be incorporated into the curriculum without reducing Tamil language teaching time,” he said.
He urged the ministry to review its restructuring plan, maintain or increase the existing allocation of 12 Tamil language periods a week, and ensure that the teaching time remained protected.
