An Academic Opinion Marginalizing People Who Mislead Others
Z.A. RAHUMAN
The necessity to introduce a Value Education system across schools and universities in Sri Lanka
“After the creation of ethnic based schools in Sri Lanka, there is a chance for increasing ethnic differences. The system of Value Education should be implemented in our country. This means that students of all ethnicities should be taught good things from in all religions” says Ansar Faleel Moulana, 53, from Maradamunai, Ampara, a Senior Lecturer at Adalaichenai Teachers College
THE CATAMARAN: As a professional lecturer, you are also a member of Propaganda Committee of the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama. How do you operate on a public platform based on religion?
Answer: I am a member of the Propaganda Committee of the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (Council of Theologians), as part of my community service. Through this, I carry out a number of ethnic reconciliation activities. In particular, conducting training for religious teachers (Moulavis) on techniques of propagation among the masses to create communal harmony that also clarifies what religion teaches. I have also been conducting orientation seminars with the aim of avoiding communal and extremist ideas. In addition to this, I encourage the concept of racial harmony in the College of Education and the Teachers College. My intention is to create a student community that will carry forward the message of reconciliation.
THE CATAMARAN: What is the Islamic Perspective on Ethnic Reconciliation?
Answer: A Muslim should be a peace-loving person; Islamic doctrine is neither racist nor radical. But some people have misunderstood this and got confused. The preacher of Islam, Muhammad said that ‘the best among you is the one who is kind to others’. This means that a Muslim should be helpful to all the people regardless of ethnicity. That is the Islamic viewpoint.
THE CATAMARAN: There are allegations that racial ties between students are declining. How can we fix this?
Answer: After independence, schools were segregated on the basis of religion and language. Students of the same ethnicity or religion started to study in one school. Thus the religion and culture of other communities are not known to students. This is an obstacle to building relationships between communities. Students who come to universities with such backgrounds also maintain that separation. They are more likely to associate with people of the same ethnicity as it was in their schools. This makes it difficult to develop ethnic relationship. Therefore, a ‘Value Education’ system has to be implemented in higher educational institutions, colleges and universities in multi-ethnic countries like ours. Thus students of all races can build trust in each other. Religious phobia will have no place. So, there will be no rift.
THE CATAMARAN: What do you mean by Value Education?
Answer: Value Education is an alternative to religious education. It is made up of good and common themes in all religions. For example, it is an educational system that covers values such as love to all, equal justice for all, charity, fairness and honesty found in all religions. This is what all religious people want. In European countries such as Britain, Australia and Germany, the programme is taught at the school level and in higher education institutions, and has been developed as a specialized subject in universities. It is called the Faculty of Humanitarian Education. Value Education has also been introduced in Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. It is also mentioned in the SAARC Declaration. Good values come from every religion. European Higher Education Programmes do not indicate from which religious text the teachings were taken; however, Asian countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives, mention from which religious book they are taken (Quran, Bible, Bhagavat Gita, Mahavamsa etc.).
THE CATAMARAN: What are the possibilities of introducing Value Education to Sri Lanka?
Answer: It has already been included in the Higher Education Courses such as Masters and Doctorates in Sri Lanka. This can also be introduced to school levels through a special programme. For this, teachers must first be trained in Value Education. Though a few in universities do a deep study of Value Education for their presentation of papers and articles it should be further encouraged. Religious educators and religious leaders can also contribute to the inclusion of Value Education in the curriculum of schools.
THE CATAMARAN: What do you think is the reason why it is impossible to keep it under control when a tense situation develops among the communities?
Answer: Most likely, racists in power are creating fake news. They are expressing hate speech. These are immediately disseminated by the media. This creates a sense of suspicion and disgust among ordinary people. This makes them unable to talk to each other with an open mind. This is what we saw after the April 21 incident. What was distressing is that even people who speak the truth about others were silent during that period. The lies and hate speech propagated by these mediums influence people.
Fake news and hate speech in Sri Lanka has attracted the attention of the international community. This is why Ahmad Saheb, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom who visited Sri Lanka recently had presented several recommendations to the Sri Lankan government on national reconciliation, with a special request to curb hate speech.
THE CATAMARAN: You place blame on the media. But aren’t the people the perpetrators in this?
Answer: Yes. But, people must either learn to respect one’s ethnicity through education or when one’s rights are denied, the other should voice their support for the aggrieved at least on humanitarian basis. If so, there will be no fake stories and hate speech among the people. It will silence politicians, racists and the media who mislead people.
People have to make the right choices when it comes to handing over their affairs to politicians. We have to be careful about who we vote for. Not only the media but also religious people are important in influencing the masses.
This article was originally published on the catamaran.com
