22 July 2009
With reference to the report in the NST on 21 July 2009 entitled 'Education success puts Malaysia 45th in UN index', PAGE wishes to congratulate the previous Ministers of Education for putting "Malaysia on par with several developed nations for its success in closing the educational gap between the urban and rural areas” as reported in the Education-For-All Global Monitoring Report 2009.
This statement strongly supports the fact that the government policy of the teaching and learning of science and math in English (PPSMI), which was implemented in 2003, has not caused any detrimental effect to the educational standards of the rural students as claimed by the opponents of the policy.
From the start, PAGE has always determinedly upheld the rights of all students both rural and urban. However, we faced fierce and emotional opposition from the language extremists who managed to persuade our current Minister of Education to reverse the policy two steps backwards, not only in primary schools but also in secondary schools as well. This is completely contradictory to the previous Minister of Education's assertion that whatever decision made would affect students entering Year One only, so as not to disrupt and confuse the rest.
As evidenced by the Education-For-All Global Monitoring Report 2009, our students have obviously not been disadvantaged due to PPSMI. Hence PAGE again calls upon the present Education Minister to allow national schools to decide for themselves the medium of instruction for the teaching and learning of science and math.
Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim
Chair
Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE)
FOR OUR CHILDREN.
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19 comments:
We have been fooled many times by this BN politicians. Do not let them fooled us again. This new cabinet who are successors of Tun are going the wrong direction from bad to worse and we have a beautiful country once popular for her multiracial, multiculture and multi-lingual. Many praised us for being able to converse in many languages & dialects (there in no one country except Malaysia that have the majority citizens able to speak more than 2 languages and 2 dialects).Is this new Cabinet going to take that away and consolidate into 1Language 1Malaysia 1Culture 1Dresscode 1Makanan 1OtakUndur??? No way man, we are not gooing to buy that!!This is cyber era not stone age era, instead of progressing we are regressing into the cave and with narrow thinking mentality thinking inside the box and not out of the box. I think only a minority opt of PPSMI to abolished, those who have no confidence and who dare not take challeges.The Govt should allow only these affected schools to revert but do not force all schools nationwide with this blanket policy, without even getting votes from each school or allow schools to put in their options before assuming that result deteriorated because of PPSMI.They should blame it on the Govt implementation and resources not blame it on the students performance.Student performance is based on the quality and quantity of good English teachers and adequate supply of books in English. If they are worried that BM would become extinct, then the basis should be to include BM Literature as an additional subjects for the Malays and English Literature for the non-Malays from Primary level up to Secondary.For those religious ones or those sasterawans (they should promote BM Literature and not use PPSMI as the excuse for the deterioration of BM), they should promote Arabic language to the Malays (if they are so fanatic and religious, why BM why not Arabic or Jawi for the Malays to preserve their language)???
If the previous Minister is reliable, at least he would voice his personal opinion on PPSMI. Why was he so silence? I think he is not good in decision making. Not only on PPSMI but also on few other issues (school fees, PIBG fees, etc).
Dear Datin
Time and again, we, the silent majority suffer because we are passive. The language extremists with their demonstrations and what not have succeeded in getting their way. One wrote a comment to me in facebook saying
"Don't blame the Chinese educationists or other educationists for this. Why don't you people who like English so much do something about it instead of keeping quiet? Blame it on yourselves."
In a way, he is right. We didn't fight hard enough for our children. We need to do it right this time and I hope that Datin will lead the way for us.
Thank you again Datin.
I agree with MagM that the silent majority does not speak out loud and hard enough in a systematic and structured way to make a difference. PAGE is indeed showing the way with Datin's leadership. Lately I also noticed that the main stream printed media is decreasing its focus on this subject and reluctant to print letters that are not in favour of the change. Perhaps they are also being silent out.
Time and time again we are reminded painfully how our education field is politicised and how our children suffer. We need to stand united. Datin, we are here to support you and our children. My daughter who is 12years old this year asked me this question, " Why should I suffer? I am studying hard.If the rural children don't want to study, why should I pay the price?
We have to join hands and not let our children suffer.
We are the silent majority.
My own mistake is, I did not join in to lobby in the first place.
My sincere apologies to PAGE.
For that, I am now mass e-mailing this message to all my friends to garner support for PAGE.
Thank you Datin and please keep up the fight.
Dear All,
We are saddened at the way the government is treating us and our children.
SK Bukit Damansara will be holding its EGM on Saturday. Its outcome will determine how PAGE will position itself. Please bear with us.
Even the press are so disheartened because they too have been cautioned.
Azimah
datin azimah,
we will be with you and page.
GO ALL OUT
We Shouldn't give up. We must continue to fight and be more vocal until the government hears us.
Rural children will always be behind regardless of which system is in use. By 2016 rural kids will still be behind!!!
Isn't much better to be the TOP TEN (outside Europe) had we adopted English after independence? Won't we prefer to have two or three times to spend and everyone speak fluent English in the international stage?
Is there any way we can have a dialogue with the ministry and explore the allowance of choice in language medium?
Much has been said about this matter. In short, I support PAGE wholeheartedly.
Big thank to Datin and co.
Dear Datin,
Can't we meet halfway? Agree to use vernacular language in primary schools and change to English in secondary schools? That should give those teachers enough time to brush up on their English skills. My children would suffer because they r in Chinese schools but speak mainly English at home. However, it's still better than learning everything in Bahasa and then suddenly changing to English in Form 6. That's the crucial year for university entrance exams. What makes then think those who cannot pass Eng Sc and maths in secondary can suddenly do well in Form 6? Oh yeah, and English Literature?? Big joke...
Dear Datin,
I am all for PPSMI. Thank you for all your hard work on this matter. I am a great supporter of PAGE and i hope we could achieve something for our children. I don't undrestand how our govenment moves backwards when all other countries are trying hard to move forward. They have spent so much of money already sending teachers abroad for training. Now they are again trying to take the tax payers money to please the people who took the streets in March.
Read yesterday's (26 July) New Sunday Times, 'Give us the option, say parents' and today's (27 July) the Sun, 'School PTA votes for science, math in English'.
Dear Datin,
Thank you for helping the Malaysians. I felt that the children are the victims of the adults. They are suffering and trap over the situation. It would be better if we leave the secondary schools alone. I completely support the PPSMI to remained English. I also agree that we should not go back to stone ages. English in Maths and Science is good enough. No need to spend so much money in the changes. Save the money for better uses.
Thank You
Perkara pokoknya, adakah kita sedar, PPSMI sebenarnya bertentangan dengan Perlembagaan Malaysia?
Seterusnya, ramai yang berkata, kenapa mesti berpatah balik kepada Bahasa Malaysia? Sedangkan PPSMI tidak sepatutnya diperkenalkan.
Perlaksanaan PPSMI sebenarnya mengulangi kembali zaman LCE, MCE. Pada waktu itu, bukan main kecil bilangan pelajar Melayu yang boleh masuk ke jurusan Perubatan dan Kejuruteraan.
Dengan diperkenalkan pengantar Bahasa Malaysia, pelajar dari segenap pelusuk negara sudah mampu menguasai Sains dan Matematik seterusnya layak mengikuti jurusan-jurusan penting. Ada yang selepas SPM boleh melanjutkan pelajaran ke luar negara dan lulus dengan baik malahan boleh terus bekerja di sana.
Kalaulah Prof Ungku Aziz pun mengatakan PPSMI patut dihapuskan, apa lagilah kita nak komen?
Kami berterima kasih kepada warga emas kerana telah berjuang untuk kemerdekaan. Bagaimanapun, generasi muda sekarang ini mesti lebih cekap dalam menghadapi cabaran dunia yang kian berleluasa. Mungkin Prof Ungku Aziz kesal kerana anak tunggalnya tidak fasih dalam bahasa melayu.
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