Deborah Henry, former Miss Malaysia World 2007, has proposed that Malaysia can achieve true national unity through the adoption of a single National School (Sekolah Kebangsaan) system.
Speaking on the 'Let’s Get It' podcast, Deborah acknowledged that her suggestion might spark controversy but emphasized the importance of fostering a unified Malaysian identity. She stressed that while preserving Chinese and Tamil schools is crucial for some, the primary goal should be to bring students together under a cohesive educational framework.
The National School system, according to Deborah, should aim to produce students fluent in Malay and English, while offering electives such as Tamil, Mandarin, or other languages to encourage multilingualism.
She advocated for a system with top-quality infrastructure, well-trained teachers, and an excellent curriculum that would make the National School system the preferred choice for all Malaysian parents, regardless of background. This, she believes, would eventually lead to the phasing out of vernacular schools.
As a passionate children’s rights activist, Deborah is also the Co-Founder of Fugee School, a non-profit organization that educates Somali refugee children. By June of last year, the school had educated over 250 students and supported 130 learners aged between four and 22. Deborah highlighted that many non-Chinese parents choose Chinese schools due to their high educational standards and discipline, emphasizing that every Malaysian child deserves access to quality education, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
