The Perspectives of Parents Toward the Practices of Pre-School Ethos During Routine Activities in Perpaduan (Unity) Pre-School Settings

Abstract

The objective of this study to investigate the views of parents toward the practice of pre-school ethos on routines activities in PERPADUAN (Unity) Pre-school settings. The study involved 30 parents from three PERPADUAN Pre-school settings. A qualitative methodology was applied. Indepth interviews were conducted with the parents. The primary findings of this case study emergent: the data and quotes from parents shown an important view of a pre-school ethos that claims to be multi-ethnic. There are the similarities and differences between pre-school ethos in line with the parental norms and values from parents' perspectives. For example, daily practices in the PERPADUAN Pre-school were acceptable. The common routine activities in pre-school day consist of the arrival time, morning assembly, hand-kissing, the salaam, the Rukun Negara (Malaysia Principle) and Negaraku (Malaysia Anthem), outdoor activity, and table manners during meal time. However, despite a good practices of multi-ethnic values through pre-school routines like "dua" and kissing hands, some of the findings evidently suggest that there are some lively 'sensitive issues'. Most of the issues commented on by the parents are related to the school's reluctance to act in a culturally sensitive way. Reciting "dua" is an act highly encouraged in Islam, regardless of time and place, but in a multi-ethnic pre-school like PERPADUAN Preschool this ritual is 'over emphasised' and regarded as 'compulsory', so that everybody must follow it regardless of their religion, even though the "dua" is recited in Malay. Some might think that this is an act of the Islamisation of pre-school and this might worry them.