KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese primary school headmasters find themselves in a Catch-22 situation over a directive from the education ministry to organize events for Palestine Solidarity Week while parents are against such events.

It will be a test of the headmasters’ wisdom and adaptability.

When contacted by Sin Chew Daily, some of the Chinese primary school headmasters said they had to submit a report on the events to be carried out and they also needed to find a way to avoid aggravating the angry parents.

A headmaster in Penang adopted to promote world peace as a special topic in a moral class.

He said World War I and World War II were cited as examples to show the brutality of wars and the importance of social harmony.

Another headmaster in Manjung district, Perak, opted to stress the importance of peace and the destruction caused by wars, during the school assembly.

Global peace, humanity, love and care have been highlighted to students, whereas Muslim students perform prayers led by religious teachers.

“Photographs of the activities held during the school assembly and prayers by Muslim students would be submitted to the ministry of education,” he said.

The education ministry announced last Thursday that it would be holding a Palestine Solidarity Week from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3.

The program will involve all educational institutions under the education ministry, including schools, vocational and matriculation colleges, as well as teacher training institutes nationwide.

The announcement has triggered debates and raised concerns, especially after a video clip depicting a man dressed as a militant wielding a replica rifle during a school event went viral on social media platforms, causing concern among parents and netizens.

In response, the ministry stated that it would not tolerate elements of extremism and violence during the Palestine Solidarity Week at all institutions under its purview.

It has been reported that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday that students are encouraged but not forced to know about the Israel-Palestine conflict, adding that there are guidelines to comply with at schools.

SJKC Sungai Way in Petaling Jaya canceled the event due to opposition from parents who threatened to skip classes for the day.

The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) President Tan Sri Goh Tian Chuan urged schools, in particular primary schools, to cancel their proposed events immediately.

As the government said it was not mandatory, coupled with the absence of updated guidelines, Goh said schools should avoid organizing such events.

“Major international conflicts, religious disputes and sovereignty issues are too heavy and too remote for primary school students and are not urgent for them to comprehend,” he said.

Instead, he said cultivating patriotism would be a more suitable focus for primary school students.

He also said some activities carried out by certain schools were inappropriate and not in line with the event’s objectives.