KUCHING: The Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) has endorsed Education International’s solidarity with educators, students, and communities in the Gaza strip.
STU president Kullin Djayang highlighted in a statement his grave concern for the impact of this conflict on innocent children and civilians.
He emphasised the fundamental principle that every child must have access to education in a secure environment, free from threats to their lives.
“Every child deserves to have access to education safely and without endangering their lives. Education is a basic human right, and STU stands for this.
“We are against all forms of violence and war. We stand for social justice and peace,” he said.
(Education International is an international umbrella for federation of teachers’ trade unions comprising 401 member organisations in 172 countries. It represents over 30 million education personnel from pre-school through university.)
Likewise, Kullin said teachers should be able to impart knowledge in a peaceful atmosphere without any danger to their well-being.
“Every teacher also deserves to teach their pupils in peace, without a threat to their lives,” he added.
The union’s motto guides their approach, with a call for teachers to avoid speculating on recent directives from the Education Ministry and to refrain from causing any unnecessary controversy.
This, he said, is to ensure that education in Sarawak continues to be delivered in a peaceful and respectful manner, with the intention of preventing the Gaza conflict from spilling over into the region.
Recently, Education International, of which STU is a part, has made a resounding appeal in the face of escalating violence in the Gaza Strip.
It has urged Israel to cease the suffering and destruction and uphold the principles outlined in the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law.
The situation of grave concern arises from indiscriminate and disproportionate bombardments across the Gaza Strip, with at least 88 educational institutions being directly targeted.
This includes the destruction of 18 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools and 70 Palestinian Authority schools, denying over 600,000 children in Gaza access to a safe education.
Education International further stressed the importance of distinguishing between combatants and civilians and between military objectives and civilian targets, in accordance with international law.
It has condemned all forms of violence, including terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians.
STU echoed these sentiments, reinforcing its commitment to the cause of education and peace in the region.
