[UPDATED] Palestine Solidarity Week in schools about humanitarian values: MoE

PETALING JAYA – The Education Ministry (MoE) today said its Palestine Solidarity Week aims to educate students on humanitarian values and concern for the suffering of others regardless of race, religion or social status.

In a statement, the MoE said the programme will involve all education institutions under the ministry, namely schools, vocational colleges, matriculation and teacher education institutes throughout the country.

The Palestine Solidarity Week, said the ministry, is a continuation of efforts to inculcate good values based on respect, love, responsibility and happiness contained in the civic studies curriculum.

“There will be various programmes during the week, but religious activities such as solat hajat, will only involve Muslim students.”

Following reports of the Palestine Solidarity Week, a group of NGOs, including from Sabah and Sarawak, had expressed shock over a notice from MoE dated October 21, 2023 calling for all schools to demonstrate and observe the solidarity week in support of Palestinians’ cause.

The notice from the office of the deputy director-general of education singled out six proposed activities to be carried out in all schools. 

The collective of NGOs said they are deeply concerned over this controversial event by a simple administrative ruling without discussions on its appropriateness at the Dewan Rakyat or without consulting the parents.

Two Sarawakian lawmakers had also expressed their reservations about the programme, saying schools should be neutral grounds.

MoE, however, reiterated that it “supports the government’s stand to continue defending the rights and freedom of the Palestinian people”.

“This support is a form of solidarity towards human values that prioritise universal peace and security.”

The Palestine Solidarity Week is slated to take place from October 29 to November 3.

Since the unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel by armed resistance group Hamas, which reportedly killed 1,400 people and claimed over 200 hostages, Israel has ramped up its assault on the occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza.

Al Jazeera quoted Gaza’s health ministry as saying that at least 5,791 Palestinians, including 2,360 children, have been killed by Israel’s airstrikes as of Tuesday.

A total of 704 people were killed in the previous 24 hours alone, making it the highest 24-hour number of deaths throughout the fortnight of Israel’s bombing, the ministry added. – The Vibes, October 26, 2023