The opinions are well divided with Chinese educationists and the Malaysian Chinese Association being the most vocal opponents of the idea.

Personally, I was glad to first hear about the 1 School Concept Petition some time ago. We all must agree that the way we are brought up will determine our character and mindset in the future.

The main method is of course through education. In other words, education are the basic fundamentals of a strong, united and dynamic society.

A blog (http://deminegara.blogspot.com/2009/05/satu-sekolah-untuk-semua.html) started this petition. Subsequently, mainstream bloggers publicised this campaign in their personal blogs as well as in several political groups in Facebook.

Today, we can see that many blogs are carrying the SSS banner, a symbol of support for the campaign to see a unified single education stream.

The title seems catchy and initially I had the thought that finally, someone is making the sincere moves to unite the plural society in Malaysia which coincidentally is a vision of our former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

However, till today, I have not signed the petition. Upon reading the wording of Kempen Satu Sekolah Untuk Semua, I told myself this is not the way I envision the concept and project.

As much as I am for 1 Malaysia and a 1 School concept, I cannot agree with the contents of petition. The gist of this campaign is a critical point of view against vernacular schools. The main content reads

" Sekolah Vernakular (SJKC dan SJKT) adalah punca utama ketidakserasian dan ketegangan kaum di negara kita tercinta. "

For those who have been following my blog, friends and relatives close to me, you all know how much I support national schools and I have always been critical that vernacular schools are possibly among the causes of national disunity - a stark contrast of opinion with the stand of the party that I support.

The 1 School Campaign is good but it cannot be based on a condemnation of vernacular schools only.

I believe my opinions on the wording are shared by the non Bumiputera community. Someone should write a better campaign and petition on 1 School.

If you have not forgotten, upon completion of major exams like UPSR and PMR, many Bumiputera students go to other types of school also.

These schools are in place mainly for the creme de la creme of Bumiputera students - specifically Malays.

Although some might argue that the boarding schools and elite schools are open to non Malays also, but the amount of places offered to them can be dismissed as insignificant.

If vernacular schools are probable causes of disharmony, then other school types like Sekolah Berasrama Penuh, MRSM, Sekolah Agama and many more are to share to blame.

1 School Campaign is wrong to begin by condemning the vernacular schools only as they are not the sole cause of disunity among Malaysians.

If 1 School is to be implemented at the expense of vernacular schools, I hope the Government consider scrapping the other types of schools under SBP, MARA and Sekolah Agama as well.

Otherwise, I foresee unrest and unhappiness among the multiracial society in Malaysia.

To lay down the foundations of a 1School Concept, we must all get things clear that the Government's policy in the provision of Education must ensure that education is available for every single Malaysian with no barriers.

By no barriers, I suggest a complete unification of the schools under a single unified education stream that provides education access to students from all walks of life regardless of race and economic status.

Every dollar of public fund spent on education must not substantially favour any particular race be it Chinese, Malays or Indians. However, I do suggest that variant of the national schools should be permitted to co-exist with the national schools and international schools.

These variants may of course include SBP and vernacular schools where the education in these schools are to be listed under the private schools sector.

Let these other types of schools be funded by the Malaysian community, businessmen and philantrophists.

These schools should be delisted from under the National Schools Policy and be allowed them to be adopted by the private sector and the communities. This way, 1 School will be seen as 1 Malaysia.

This “extreme” approach will be acceptable by many I am sure. One has to give to gain something in return and this message must be imparted in the minds of all Malaysians.

I love my country and I love the idea of 1 School which unites people under 1 Language and 1 System.

But this must not be exploited as an opportunity to slam vernacular schools as the main cause of disharmony as other types of non national & non vernacular schools are to be blamed too.

Having said all these, my comments will not be well received by Chinese educationists and neither will it be endorsed by the Malaysian Chinese Association. Though I am a Malaysian Chinese, I do aspire to see a united Malaysian society.