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Introduction to Fenn-Wu Report
Introduction to Fenn-Wu Report
The Fenn-Wu Report (1951) was prepared by Dr. William P. Fenn from the United States and Dr. Wu Teh Yao. It was commissioned by the British colonial government as a response to the Chinese community’s disapproval of the Barnes Report, which they felt ignored the needs and identity of non-Malay communities, especially the Chinese.
(On the left is a picture of Dr Wu Teh Yao)
The contents of the Fenn-Wu Report include:
The contents of the Fenn-Wu Report include:
Recognition of all races: Emphasised that the education system must consider the interests of all ethnic groups in Malaya and not favour any single community.
Language policy: Suggested that Malay, Chinese, and English should all be included as subjects in schools, allowing students to learn in their preferred language without losing their cultural identity.
Cultural preservation: Opposed the idea of forcing a single language as the medium of instruction, arguing that it could hinder the identity-building process for the new Malayan nation.
Teacher training: Recommended the establishment of a private teachers’ college to address the shortage of qualified teachers and to strengthen Chinese schools in particular.
Goal: Aimed to balance national unity with cultural diversity, ensuring that the move toward a unified nation did not erase ethnic identities or traditions.
Although the Fenn-Wu Report highlighted the importance of multicultural education, its ideas were seen as contradictory to the goal of full national integration. The government later formed a compromise between the Barnes and Fenn-Wu proposals, leading to the Education Ordinance of 1952.
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