The PTA’s role in a school - Dr. Mohamed Rafick Khan

I refer to The Malaysian Insider report dated July 26,  2013: “School need not tell everything to parents," says Seri Pristana PTA chief, written by Yiswaree Palansamy.

To be fair to the PTa president, Hussein Mohd Ariff, I am only assuming that what was reported by the reporter was exactly what the PTA president said.

Firstly, let me say that as an ex-PTA president, majority of the PTA members has no clue what PTA is all about and many of them have not seen the PTA constitution.

Going by what was written by The Malaysian Insider, clearly Hussein Ariff has very little clue on what is the actual role of the PTA.

As he is quoted: "The school has the right to choose what it wants to disclose to the parents and this includes the decision to open up the shower room as a makeshift canteen," Hussein told The Malaysian Insider in Kuala Lumpur today. It is not up to us to meddle with the school administration. We are there to support and raise funds for their programmes."

While there is appropriate regulation that bars the PTA from interfering with the school administration, it does not mean that PTA committee members have to rubber-stamp everything that the school does.

The role of the PTA goes far beyond giving support and raising funds. It should be about ensuring that the school does things that make sense and for the benefit of the children. Had such a proposal been discussed by the PTA, then they should have contributed their views when it makes sense.

It is pure logic that such an idea does not make sense to the average person irrespective of race and religion.

In a PTA, the headmaster functions purely in an advisory capacity. It has no power to push the PTA to accept any suggestions from the school. The PTA committee members should have played a greater role in deliberating such issues and make a formal and clear position of the matter. Parents are equally to be blamed.

Most parents do not even attend PTA meetings. In most schools, during PTA meetings, teachers outnumber parents and there are so many reluctant candidates when it comes to leading the school PTA.

Clearly what is wrong here is that the balance between PTA and school was not there and the PTA is currently reacting to the sensationalised news. No matter how good the headmaster's intentions were, taking such a step does not make sense.

If indeed space is a constraint, they should have done the necessary things to expand the canteen. Worst case scenario, the teacher’s canteen should have been moved into the washroom.

On the so-called renovation, it should have been done during the school holidays. I don’t think changing the door is “very crucial” and it should not take more than 2 days to do such job. My advice to the PTA members, please go back and study the constitution and stop “menegakkan benang yang basah”.

Based on my personal observation, I would be very concerned that the teachers at the school will victimise the child whose parent blasted the news while the PTA chairman's child will get special treatment.

The threat to the child is real. I have seen enough cases in my lifetime.

* Dr Mohamed Rafick Khan reads The Malaysian Insider.