Persatuan Guru Melayu Kedah (PGMK), 1946–1956: Isu-isu pendidikan dan perguruan.

Abstract

This article discusses the struggles of Kedah Malay teachers through the Kedah Malay Teachers’ Association (PGMK) in dealing with language issues particularly pertaining to the Malay language medium in the Malay education system before independence. Apart from salary increment claims, they demanded the British colonialists acknowledge Malay as a communication language in all the Malay schools across Kedah. With regard to this, the main objective of this study is to highlight the role of Malay teachers of Kedah, through their association, in demanding for their own welfare and Malay education by making the Malay language as the main language taught in primary schools and secondary schools in the then Malaya. They argue that the colonial-era education system introduced by the British government is not suitable in the local education system. The discussion in this article is based on analyses of historical resources from the newspapers and magazines before independence, i.e., Warta Negara, Majalah Guru and The Straits Times as well as the archival research method study analysing British documents. This research employed primary and secondary resources from archives, the PGMK office and university libraries. This writing piece traces the struggles of Malay teachers to pressure the colonial government in taking the necessary steps to address the issue of making the Malay language the medium in the school system. The study successfully proves the impact of teachers as advocates for the Malays over the colonial government which resulted in several changes in the demands for salary claims, teachers’ educational opportunities, school facilities and language issues.