No intention to convert children to Islam through teaching methods, says Dr Jerip

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CONTROVERSIAL: Dr Jerip points at the picture that has become a subject of controversy. Also seen (seated from left) are Dennis, Abang Rabaee and Liwan.

KUCHING: Kemas (Community Development Department) has no intention to Islamise Christian children through its education materials and teaching methods.

Bengoh assemblyman Dr Jerip Susil said this after a dialogue session with state Kemas director Abang Rabaee Abang Muhi and representatives of various Christian groups to clear the air on the subject.

The picture of a Muslim-faith conducting prayer in a Pendidikan Moral book used by Kemas pre-schoolers has become a subject of controversy.

“It was misinterpreted by some quarters of the public,” Dr Jerip told a press conference after a dialogue held at his office at Baitulmakmur building, Petra Jaya near here yesterday.

“The issue of Kemas using its network to convert rural children of the Christian faith to become Muslims has created tension among the Christian community.

“We have come to realise that some of the materials are contentious. Some of the pictures in the materials have become an issue to us,” said the Assistant Minister of Public Health.

Among those present were Assistant Minister of Cultural and Heritage Liwan Lagang who is also Belaga assemblyman, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, representatives from Association Churches of Sarawak, Kemas personnel and teachers.

Dr Jerip explained that Kemas had good intention to educate the youngsters. One of the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) was to increase the literacy rate of children up to Primary 1 level.

At the moment, the literacy rate is 60 per cent and the country is aiming for a further 20-30 per cent increase.

One of the objectives was to set up kindergartens in remote rural areas.

As a result from the dialogue, Kemas agreed to cooperate to rectify the negative perception by being flexible to the request of the Christian groups.

“Freedom has also been given to the teachers to modify their teaching method so if the majority of students are from the Christian faith, they will be allowed to teach Christian values,” he explained.

Dr Jerip said he, Dennis and Liwan would write a joint letter to the Education Ministry to rectify the matter.

There are 1,422 Kemas pre-schools throughout the state with 21,157 pupils. The teachers totalling to 1,416 were almost 100 per cent locals.