Many Malaysians' first language is English, claim parents' group. -NST
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Schools should be given the option to teach Science and Mathematics in English or Bahasa Malaysia, or in one's mother tongue, Parents Action Group for Education (Page) said yesterday.
"There might be some schools which would want to continue teaching in English," said Page chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim.
"I think there should be a choice. There are many Ma-laysians whose first language is English," she added.
Noor Azimah said maintaining English as an option would also be a compromise for the people in Sabah and Sarawak, who are not given the choice to learn in their mother tongue.
She said in the long run, the move to revert to teaching the two subjects in Bahasa Malaysia would rob the younger generation of job opportunities.
Malaysian English Language Teaching Association president Dr Ganakumaran Subramaniam said the policy of teaching of Maths and Science in English should at least be maintained in secondary schools.
"We could follow the formula practised in Middle Eastern countries such as Oman and Syria. Lessons should be taught in the mother tongue in primary schools and then we can move on to teach Science and Maths in English in secondary school."
He said although he was surprised at the decision, he understood that it was "done out of necessity".
"We were not prepared for the shift to English. We didn't have enough teachers who were trained."
Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said more emphasis should be placed on strengthening the teaching and learning of English in schools.
"It is not only about understanding the language itself, but students must also be able to speak and write fluently."
Shamsuddin said without a proper grasp of the language, Malaysia would lose its competitive advantage vis-a-vis other countries.
Malaysian Trades Union Congress secretary-general G. Rajasekaran said the latest decision could lead to confusion.
"The present policy is one way to make students learn English. Fresh graduates today lack good understanding of the language."
8 comments:
Do you know the SK Desa Cemerlang. Ulu Tiram, Johor forces the Indian and Chinese to study Bahasa Arab? Even when these parent does not agree to their children studying Bahasa Arab!
And do you know the current Science and Math being in English are taught using Bahasa as medium of instruction? The whole teaching are in Bahasa but written in English in the exercise books and text book! So my son's science exercise book now have pokok= tree; daun=leave; dahan=branch....
Totally object teaching science and math in English...why wait until 2010...do it immediately...
I think we need to take action. We need to get the MNCs, biz bodies, financial institutions to let the govt know how important English is on a daily basis. Lets face it, the govt cannot provide work for all her citizens as they communicate in Bahasa only.
The education minister said that we cannot have "flip-flop" decision. What is this? A change after on 6 years of implementation?
We need to inform all those political parties, we care for our children and our country with action. We don't need to regress
Dear Shazat,
Can u please let us know why u object teaching PPSMI and want a change asap
dear anon 11.11am,
why u did not report it to the education department if SK Desa Cemerlang,Ulu Tiram forced Indians n Chinese to learn Bahasa Arab?
do not make false allegations.if it's true, go and report, bring reporters with you.
I think the idea of allowing the teaching Maths and Science to be in Both English and Bahasa Melayu is very good. Even to allow teaching in Tamil and Chinese at the respective SJKs is brilliant. The reason why we are born into different families, races and religions is because God wants the world to be multiracial, and God wants us to experience the different ways of life yet tolerant and understanding.
If dual streaming in English and BM was once flourishing before in the 60s and 70s, there is no reason it cannot be done now.
Make everyone happy. After all the world is meant to be colorful and beautiful with multicolors and multilanguages.
Isn't it too soon to condemn and reverse the policy of teaching maths and science in English just after 6 years?What are the measures taken to ensure the success of the policy besides giving teachers monthly allowance for teaching in English? The MOE look into producing graduate teachers who can teach the subjects in English.Ensure that the new teachers can teach these subjects in English.
Let the children have a choice whether they want to learn it in English or BM/Chinese or Tamil.
Pre-U level is too late for them to study these subjects in English.
The Minister could have decided on a win-win situation: provide the PPSMI option and do not touch secondary schools.
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