OCT 16 — Should the people of Terengganu be flushed with pride or is their state government taking the mickey out of the original 1 Malaysia slogan?
Recently, Terengganu introduced a “1 Toilet" policy, where teachers and school principals have to share toilets with their students, in a move to liberalise education. Students would then have a sense of belonging and be inspired to excel further in education.
State Education, Higher Learning, Human Resource, Science and Technology Committee chairman Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman was quoted as saying that the policy was mooted in line with the 1 Malaysia concept, and teachers and students could have a feeling of “oneness”.
He added: “When students share the toilets with the teacher, they (students) will believe that they are on par with academicians and this automatically invokes a sense of being important to an organisation, which, in this case, is the school.”
If only it wasn’t such a serious matter (our children’s education) as I wouldn’t know whether to laugh or cry. When this policy was first mooted, were lots of people clapping?
So now we have a 1 Toilet plan for the 1 Toilet school (most kids tell me their schools normally have only the one, proper, clean and functioning toilet, out of several). The toilet will be cleaned by the 1 Toilet Cleaner for the (whole) 1 School. (Cleaners tend to disappear, especially when you want them, so probably there is only the one cleaner per school). Are these toilets also to be 1 Gender, in other words are they “unisex” toilets?
This 1 Toilet policy will breed much toilet humour. Nevertheless, I fail to understand how teachers and their charges are supposed to feel at one, with each other, when they share toilets. The claim that toilet sharing can “liberalise education” also baffles me. Equally confusing is that toilet sharing will make students feel that they are “on par with academicians”.
During Roman times, there were big public toilets that had room for lots of people at the same time (long benches with holes which seat several people at once). Are students and teachers supposed to have intelligent discourse and exchange ideas whilst they are on the communal throne?
Now, if someone were to tell me that improved cleanliness and increased attendance in lessons were to arise from sharing toilet facilities with a teacher, then these, I can believe.
Sharing will discourage students from loitering in the toilets, taking long toilet calls and doing things that they are not supposed to do like smoking, taking drugs, cheating (during examinations), snacking (yes some odd people do snack in the toilets), or just hiding, because they are avoiding particular lessons or specific teachers.
Similarly, sharing with a teacher may deter vandalism of the toilet and also littering or inadvertent fouling of the toilets and floor. The presence of teachers could also improve the cleanliness, because toilet users may be asked to dispose of their litter properly, make sure taps are not dripping, lights are switched off and the washing of hands encouraged after using the toilet. In other words, cleanliness and the practice of good housekeeping methods are inculcated.
Malaysia is the only country I know that excels in scoring brownie points with their leaders in innovative and weird ways. I hope no one in authority advocates the sharing of baths or showers (to save water and energy) as in the 1 Bath concept?
But it is not all bad. There is potential for good “1” policies like, the 1 Wife policy (for errant men who cannot help themselves and have the need to take on more than one wife), 1 Car (to encourage car-pooling and so reduce the carbon footprint and pollution), the 1 School (the provision of one type of school only which delivers an accepted high-quality education to all citizens of Malaysia regardless of creed or colour).
However, Ahmad Razif’s other policy, which encourages the mingling of teachers and students during recess, is brilliant. Communication lines will be improved and interaction enhanced. Other side effects might be better manners and less bullying among students, as well as a better and healthier school canteen menu.
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