Fighting Racial and Religious Discrimination by Education

In the wake of the recent terror attacks by extremist groups, there have been radical calls to exclude Muslims, Syrians or other people from Middle Eastern backgrounds. In North America, there has been seemingly a real resentment and discrimination of people of the Muslim faith. This hasn’t been helped with public figures such as Republican presidential hopeful, Mr Donald Trump, engaging in fear mongering tactics.

The Australian government are planning to introduce 1 hour of Middle Eastern politics into the current education curriculum. This aims to prevent radicalisation of young people by providing them with knowledge of the subject matter. This move mimics what the Singaporean government did in 1997.

In 1997, the Singapore government introduced National Education in schools across the nation. Among its objectives, National Education aims to ensure multi-racial and multi-religious harmony. The program is not just classes and discussion about politics; it also provides a knowledge-focused curriculum on the various different cultures of the major racial groups in Singapore. The curriculum also covers 1-2 classes on each religious group each year, taught in a non-proselytising manner. National Education is even a subject with its own tests.

Chinese New Year Class Decorations (Source: MyClassroomIdeas)

I started Secondary (High) school in 1997, and clearly remember how National Education was taught. I strongly believe that with knowledge comes stronger understanding and demystification of different cultural or religious practices. For instance, Muslim students don’t get picked on during the month of Ramadan when they are fasting. Or during Thaipusam, people don’t get creeped out by Kavadi carriers, where devotees piece themselves with skewers). Or during Chinese New Year, the public isn’t fussed about shops going on a 2-3 day shut down because they understand it’s family time.

Thaipusam Kavadi carrying ritual (Souce: Flickr user Wantet)

National Education in Singapore isn’t just about attended classroom classes. It’s also about celebrating and commemorating various special days such as Racial Harmony Day and International Friendship Day. We also spent time decorating our classrooms during major cultural festivals such as Chinese New Year, where the classrooms will be filled with red lanterns and streamers; or Hari Raya Adilfitri (Eid) where classrooms will be filled with ketupats and green streamers.

Students dressed up for Racial Harmony Day (Source: SJI)

My favourite was Racial Harmony Day. Racial Harmony Day is on 21 July each year commemorating the racial riots in Singapore in 1964 where 36 people were killed and over 500 injured. Racial Harmony Day is one of the few days in the school calendar where we don’t have to wear our school uniforms to school. We also get to dress up in our choice of traditional clothing. It’s also a great opportunity to swap clothes with friends of a different cultural background. I’ve been to school in my traditional cheong sum (Chinese dress), but also in a baju kurung (Malay dress).  Very often there are performances of traditional dance and music, as playing of traditional games.

Understanding mainstream cultures and religions not only help with better cultural and religious harmony, but also prevents extremism. Understanding religions also help you to better understand your religious choices, be it choosing to be atheist, or choosing to be Christian or choosing to be Muslim.

I hope that we don’t all go Hitler on Syrians or Muslims, and continue enjoy the cultural and religious harmony we have today. I hope we be generous to the refugees in need; and that our generosity will dissolve any resentment they have against their host countries.

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