抄録
Until now, there is a vast literature on education in Southeast Asia. Researchers have focused on national integration, globalization and Chinese immigrantion. This article attempts to examine the position of Punjabi education in Southeast Asian Sikh communities in relation to the national educational system. Then I’ll consider their educational strategy as a minority immigrant in Southeast Asia.
Sikh is the belief in Sikhism which Nanak started in South Asia. There are ten Gurus as spiritual leaders. Also Gurua Granth Sahib which is written in Gurmukhi script is placed in Gurdwara (Sikh temple) as Holy book.
Sikh immigrated into Southeast Asia in the latter half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. At present there are 80.000 Sikhs in Southeast Asia; 15,000 in Singapore, 40,000 in Malaysia, 20,000 in Thailand and 6,000 in Indonesia. Their first language, Punjabi, in the first generation was changed into the second or third language.
Singapore has cultural pluralism as an educational policy for national unity. The government adopts a bilingual policy, which include English and the ethnic language. In 1989, the government recognized Punjabi as a second language in the national educational system. Sikhs established Singapore Sikh Education Foundation for the provider of Punjabi education. The organization caters Punjabi education on every Saturday and published their original textbooks.
Malaysia follows an integration approach as educational policy for national unity. In primary education the teaching mediums are Malay, Chinese and Tamil. The teaching medium in secondary education is only Malay. Punjabi is an optional subject in the national examination, even though Punjabi is not taught in the national educational system. Punjabi Education Trust Malaysia is an organization which provides Punjabi education in Malaysia. The organization provides Punjabi education for the examination on every Sunday in their 32 centers, using the text books of the Singapore Sikh Education
Foundation.
Thailand and Indonesia use an assimilation approach as educational policy for national unity. In both national educational systems, the national language, Thai and Indonesian, are only used as a teaching medium. In Thailand the Sikh Foundation established the Thai Sikh International School which follows the international curriculum for IGCSE and GCE-A level. The international school has Punjabi education in foreign language study. In Indonesia, 6 religions are officially recognized and are taught in the national schools as a religious subject. The government recognizes that Sikhism is a kind
of Hinduism. Gurdwara provides Punjabi education in religious study.
The positions of Punjabi education are different in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. In Singapore Punjabi education is a subject of second language in the system. In Malaysia Punjabi education measured by the national examination in the system. In Thailand the international school outside the system provides Punjabi education. In Indonesia Gurdwara offers Punjabi education for the school system’s religious study in the system.
From consideration on the positions of Punjabi education in Southeast Asia, we can understand their educational strategy, respect for their national educational system and the development of their transnational network.
