It is often said that ‘it is the people that make the place’. The people of Malaysia are an immensely befitting testimony of this. On 16th September 1963, three separate states, Sarawak, Sabah and Malaya joined together like the pieces of a puzzle, aligning perfectly to form the big, diverse and multicultural country called Malaysia. The indigenous people of Malaysia – sometimes called the “Orang Asli or Orang Asal” are the original or native people living in Malaysia even before it became a country. They all have unique cultures, traditions and languages – much like the students who come to GIS from a different parts of the world to partake in a truly innovative, multidimensional and culturally inclusive education.
At GIS, the celebration of Malaysia Day also sprouts from its spirit of belonging embedded deep into the fabric of its intercultural learning, which has been a key focus in the GIS curriculum. Shining a light on the Orang Asli of Malaysia this year by incorporating Malaysian history and culture within their World Languages sessions and daily curriculum to learn more about Malaysia Day, GIS teachers ensure that the students come together to dress, learn and celebrate the people, cultures and ideas of the country they reside in – a country different to the one they belong to. And yet they are able to carve out a sense of “Belonging” within these school walls with the help of their peers, teachers and parent community. At GIS, the International Primary Curriculum ignites a lifelong love for the world around us.
Food culture in Malaysia
Food has always been a key unifying factor of any culture. In the same spirit of spreading togetherness and sharing in each other’s cultures and traditions, the senior school’s Malay team hosted a ‘Jom Makan Kuih-Muih’ event on Friday, 15th Sept at GIS where students and staff were invited to sample a variety of local delicacies in a typical Malaysian Open House setting.
Diversity and cross-cultural learning
In keeping with the idea of introducing diversity and cross-cultural learning from an early age, the primary school students enjoyed local sweet desserts and learnt about the different tribes and Orang Asli people of Malaysia through picture stories, painting activities and the history of Malaysia in their learning for this week. The children dress up in traditional attire and are exposed to songs, stories and focused play around the themes of Malaysia Day, which imparts not only an understanding of the country’s national day but also ensures that by including all the various nationalities it houses, the school cements a true sense of Belonging within the school community.
