THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is in the process of finalising its work programme having made progress in restoring vital staff complement.

According to the commission, since it was reconstituted on April 26, 2018, it has dedicated a significant among of time to familiarisation and implementing procedures to restore vital staff complement which was depleted over the past seven years due to the absence of a commission.

“A work programme has been derived and is in the process of being finalised. It reflects education for the promotion of national harmony as an utmost priority with an expected launch within the very near future,” the commission said in a statement on Wednesday.
In that statement, the ERC also disclosed its intention to meet shortly with the concerned parties in the Mae’s Culture Day fiasco.

The ERC said it is pleased that the recent Mae’s Schools incident has been resolved. The mother of a nine-year-old boy with the backing of the Indigenous community had picketed the school after he was reportedly evicted for wearing a traditional indigenous wear for the school’s Culture Day. The school has since issued an apology to the child and his parents.
The commission noted that the resolution has brought much relief to the parties concerned and, by extension, the nation.

“While the ERC would have played no part in the process that led to the much desired resolution of this extremely sensitive issue, it would like to commend all those involved for being able to move beyond differences, hurt sentiments and the ensuing tension that arose. This, through the maturity that was demonstrated, must be recognised and augurs well for future conflict resolutions if the need arises,” the commission said.

It, however, used the opportunity to bring attention to the valuable lessons the incident would have afforded.

“It once again unambiguously illustrated that our society, despite differences, can find common grounds to unite and represent an issue that impacts our people, in this case a child and what he exemplified. Further, it revealed the urgent need for related education holistically to inculcate a better understanding and appreciation to prevent a recurrence,” the ERC stated.