Dear All,

The rakyat who wish to have a say on the Malaysian education system are invited to migrate to http://www.pagemalaysia.org from now on. This portal which contains material from the start of the debate on PPSMI provides such a platform.

Our plans as far as PPSMI is concerned is to now hand a second memorandum to the Prime Minister who will listen to the rakyat in the spirit of 1Malaysia.

FOR OUR CHILDREN/DEMI ANAK KITA

An Invitation to Parents

An Invitation to Attend the Soft Launch of the
Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE)

Dear Friends,

We would like to invite you to the soft launch of the Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) as a registered national society. As you are well aware, PAGE has been in the forefront of the campaign to maintain the option for PPSMI. After many months of exchanges and overcoming a host of challenges, we are pleased to inform that PAGE’s application to be formalized as a national society has finally been approved.

Whilst PAGE will continue in its efforts, it is now the time for us to gather support, increase our numbers and unite under this umbrella for our common cause. As such, we seek your presence at this event to help convey the message that concerned parents in Malaysia are too sizeable a number to be ignored.

Details of the event are as follows :

Date: Saturday, 3 July 2010
Venue: Pekan Kopitiam & Bistro, Jalan Medan Setia 1,
Plaza Damansara, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur

Programme

10.30 am Arrival of guests and registration
11.00 am Welcome remarks by the Master of Ceremony
11.05 am Welcome speech by the Chairman of PAGE
11.10 am Launch of PAGE Portal, Membership & briefing on the PPSMI Option
11.30 am Press conference/Refreshments

We look forward to seeing you.

Kindly RSVP via sms to 013.3913494 or email to pagemalaysia@gmail.com .

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Tengku Ida Tengku Ismail
Honorary Secretary-PAGE

FOR OUR CHILDREN/DEMI ANAK KITA

URGENT!

Immediately register your support for PPSMI on:

http://www.petitiononline.com/magp13/petition.html

FOR OUR CHILDREN

PAGE Malaysia is registered

The Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) or Persatuan Ibu Bapa Untuk Pendidikan Malaysia (1266-10-WKL) is now a national body registered with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Our details are as follows:

PAGE Malaysia
24-2, Medan Setia 2
Plaza Damansara
Damansara Heights
50490 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-20925626
Fax: 03-20931241

PAGE Malaysia will be launched in July 2010.

We wish to thank the Minister of Education and his officers for endorsing PAGE Malaysia and onward approval by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

FOR OUR CHILDREN

Mr PM, how can Malaysia meet Western Digital's investment requirements if you abolish PPSMI?

Workforce: 77pc have only SPM
May 22, 2010

NUSAJAYA, May 22 —Seventy-seven per cent of the country’s workforce had only attained the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia or equivalent academic qualification.

This does not go well with Malaysia’s aspiration to achieve the developed nation status by 2020, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“If we do not seriously address the education gap, Malaysia will not have the labour pool that is sufficiently educated and prepared to work in high end industries that our country is developing,” he said.

Najib said this when launching Khazanah Nasional’s MYWorkLife Talent Portal at Puteri Habour, here today.

He said that Western Digital Malaysia had announced an investment of USD1.2 billion in this country that would involve the construction of a new 1.5 milli on sq ft multi-storey building for research, development and manufacture of magnetic head, media components and hard disk drives.

Up to 10,000 additional jobs, involving a substantial number of high-qualification jobs, 100 PhD holders, 1,000 masters or equivalent holders will be created at the facility over time.

“What does that say about us? It means that we have not developed enough people both in qualitative and quantitative terms to fulfil the requirement of knowledge and innovative economy,” he said.

The Prime Minister said, as outlined in the New Economic Model, several key factors were essential to prepare the workforce to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

“We need to increase our local talent over time, re-skill our existing labour force and retain and access local and global talent so that we will be able to change our per capita income from the present level of US$7,000 (RM23,345) to US$15,000 (RM50,000) by 2010,” he said.

The possible areas that the government is considering to review in order to attract highly experienced Malaysians and foreign workers to call Malaysia home include:that

- Relaxing rules regarding permanent residence status for ex-Malaysians and their families as well as for foreigners.

- Centralizing oversight of foreign labour and expatriates to enable more streamlined governance of residence policies.

- Building up a critical mass of skilled professionals through simplified work permit and immigration procedures.

- And continuing to liberalise the professional services sector.

Also present were Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman and Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar. — Bernama

FOR OUR CHILDREN

Time for drastic action..

All systems go for science and maths reverting to BM in 2011

The Financial Edge
Tuesday, 18 May 2010 21:54

PUTRAJAYA: The federal government is ready to shift back to teaching science and mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia in 2011 and will not accommodate requests to remain with English as the medium of instruction for these subjects, Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

The education ministry was at "the final stages of preparation" of implementing the policy, and textbooks for both subjects in Bahasa Malaysia were being written, he told a press conference after chairing a cabinet committee meeting on human capital development on Monday, May 17.

Muhyiddin, who is also deputy prime minister, said that he had received a report a fortnight ago indicating that the ministry was ready to proceed in 2011 with the first batch to be taught under the reinstated Bahasa Malaysia policy.

He had told parliament in October 2009 that the education ministry was mulling the possibility of teaching mathematics and science in Bahasa Malaysia to Standard One students in 2011, ahead of the 2012 target year set for other students nationwide.

On July 8, 2009, Muhyiddin had announced the cabinet's decision to abolish the policy of teaching science and mathematics in English (or PPSMI, the Malay acronym for the policy), that was adopted in 2003.

The decision marks a reversion to Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction for the two subjects in national schools as well as a shift back to vernacular languages in Chinese and Tamil schools starting 2012.

To another question, Muhyiddin said his ministry was aware that certain quarters had been lobbying for schools to be given an option to teach the subjects in English but it remained closed to the possibility.

"We are aware that some have requested that but if we take that into account, many problems will emerge (and it would seem as if) we are inconsistent on policy," he said.

"We understand what students and parents need. We want parents to give the ministry a chance to implement the policy (back to Bahasa Malaysia for the two subjects)."

Muhyiddin reiterated that the new policy would include steps to enhance students' command of the English language, including an increase in teaching time for the English language, several steps to transform the teaching of the language and the recruitment of more teachers.

"What is certain is that it (the teaching of the English language) will be more enjoyable... The new curriculum will be enhanced."

A group of parents who call themselves the Parent Action Group for Education (Page) had in October 2009 submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak seeking an exemption from the policy shift to enable certain schools to opt to continue teaching science and mathematics in English.

Page chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim had said that the group was pushing for the establishment of a new category of schools that taught both subjects in English, alongside existing vernacular schools.

Contacted on Monday, Noor Azimah maintained that Page's request for options was a "reasonable" one as it was not opposing the government's policy nor was it challenging the status of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language.

"It's a reasonable request. PPSMI is a policy matter. But this policy has been overly politicised. It is a win-win situation (if schools are given a choice)," said Noor Azimah.

Noor Azimah also pointed to the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision which affirmed that it was constitutional to teach mathematics and science in English. High Court judge Mohd Zawawi Salleh ruled on May 7 that the two circulars on the execution of the previous policy for vernacular and national schools to teach both subjects in English did not contradict Article 152 of the Federal Constitution.

FOR OUR CHILDREN

High Court Decides

Court: It’s OK to teach Science and Maths in English
By M. MAGESWARI
mages@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: In a test case brought by four students, a High Court has ruled that it is constitutional for Mathematics and Science to be taught in English.

High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Justice Mohd Zawawi Salleh decided yesterday that two circulars on the policy to teach Science and Mathematics in English in national and vernacular schools did not contradict Article 152 of the Federal Constitution. (Article 152 states that the national language shall be the Malay language.)

The suit, filed by Mohammad Syawwaal Mohammad Nizar, Mohammad Fadzil Nor Mohd Rosni, Nur Najihah Muhaimin and Syazaira Arham Yahya Ariff, sought a declaration that the circulars dated Nov 27, 2002 on the execution of the policy was unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.

In addition, they sought to declare that the Government had no power and privilege to introduce, enforce and implement the policy.

They also sought to compel the Government to change or restore the policy according to the provisions of the Federal Constitution and written law.

In their originating summons, the students claimed that the policy had been enforced without taking into consideration Article 152 of the Constitution and laws like the National Language Act 1967 and Education Act 1996.

At the time of filing the suit on Jan 20, 2006, Mohammad Syawwaal was a Year Four student in SK Batu Tiga, while Mohammad Fadzil and Nur Najihah were Form Three students in SMK Tok Muda Abd Aziz and SMK Seri Perak, respectively. Syazaira Arham was a Form Four student in Madrasah Idrissiah.

The four filed the suit through their fathers Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, Mohd Rosni Abu Bakar, Muhaimin Sulam and Yahya Ariff Kamaruzzaman.

Justice Mohd Zawawi dismissed their civil action with costs after hearing clarification by the parties.

The four students were represented by lawyer Mohamed Hanipa Maidin while Senior Federal Counsel Suzana Atan acted for the Government - the sole defendant.

Speaking to the media, Suzana said the judge dismissed the students’ originating summons because Malay language was still being maintained as the main medium of instruction in schools.

Mohamed Hanipa said the judge held that even if the Education Act stated that the Malay language should be the main language, it still meant that other languages could also be used in schools.

He said he would appeal against the ruling as it involved constitutional issues and public interest.

FOR OUR CHILDREN

The Sun Speaks Up

The Sun Daily 7 April 2010
SPEAK UP! :: Letters
Give parents a bigger say

BY NOW, most annual general meetings (AGMs) of parent-teacher associations (PTAs) would have been conducted. For the schools where its teachers enjoy a good relationship with the parents, all well and good. For the schools that do not, it is time for some reflection if the school is to move forward.

Like all associations, members pay subscription. In the case of PTAs, for some strange reason, teachers are exempted from this subscription. In some schools, some teachers refuse to pay even though their children are in the school and yet both directly benefit from PTA funds.

Even more strangely, these teachers get to not only nominate parent committee members at the AGM but they also get away with the voting of these parents. As a result, teachers normally vote in parents who are docile and passive, a detrimental move, as parents who are an asset to schools, often encouraged by the Education Ministry, are not used.

As a result, if a parent is desperate to head the PTA then all he has to do is lobby the teachers. He does not even need to lobby the parents, a more daunting task. For this reason, parents shun AGMs as they feel it is a lost cause.

On the other hand, parents pay subscription yet they do not get to vote the teachers whom they want to sit on the committee. Normally, the principal pre-determines the names of the teachers sitting on the PTA committee. This list should be proposed and seconded at the AGM as provided for the PTA regulations but is normally not adhered to.

For a more equitable balance, if teachers do not want to be subjected to paying subscription, then they should abstain from voting. And parents must make it a point to attend and exercise their rights, if not for themselves, for their children. If enough parents attend, then just maybe, the role of the PTA will be made more effective.

Interestingly, while AGMs provide the platform for parent-teacher discussions on educational issues, this time, parents were prohibited from speaking about the controversial policy of the teaching and learning of science and maths in English. Not having any freedom of expression to do so renders the very existence of PTAs in schools futile.

The spirit of the Education Act 1996 provides for children to be educated according to the wishes of their parents. If parents cannot even speak, what is the point? The government has admitted that it does not know best, so who does, if not parents themselves.

Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim
Chairperson
Parent Action Group for Education

FOR OUR CHILDREN

PTA Gag Order

Muhyiddin’s arrogance over PTAs riles PAS
Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:20
www.freemalaysiatoday.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin got a rapping from PAS for barring Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in the country from discussing issues and policies relating to the national education system.

PAS central information chief Idris Ahmad said Muhyiddin’s myopic view was a clear indication that BN was not open to censure and gave a deaf ear to public view.

“PAs is shocked at his arrogance and narrow-mindedness. PTAs have a right to discuss education policies and issues. They have a right to offer their views on the system because it affects their children.

“PAS views PTAs as the best medium for parents and teachers to convey the views, especially that involving the education system,” he said.

Idris was responding to Muhyiddin’s statement in Parliament yesterday.

Muhyiddin, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, reminded PTAs that their roles were limited to questions pertaining to the improvements in the schools they represent.

Said Idris: “He should be using the PTAs as a the ministry’s primary source of reference before introducing new systems because they have a right to know and better understand the needs of students and their children.”

According to him, open discussions of the education system at PTA meetings and conventions will encourage PTAs to become credible watchdogs of national policies and systems while not ignoring the domestic issues within their schools.

“If they are not given the space to speak, where will they offer their views because not all PTAs members are involved in NGOs or political parties. There is nothing wrong in using PTAs as a medium of expressing their views,” he said.

He said that Muhyiddin's response in Parliament showed up BN government’s arrogance.

Idris added that BN had habitually only entertained views that were in sync with theirs

“They don’t entertain views that are contradictory. They consider contradictory views and political views... but that is not right.

“Even when a politician discusses education... it remains an issue of education. It is not politics and does not need to be politicised. It is obvious that he (Muhyiddin) is the one politicising education, not the PTAs,” he said.

Following Muhyiddin’s misguided response, PAS has invited all PTAs to forward their views through their Pakatan Rakyat representatives if BN declines to accept their views.

He said PAS will ensure that the issues are raised in Parliament and in the Senate.

FOR OUR CHILDREN.

New Economic Model - An Awakening

The Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) applauds the Prime Minister of Malaysia for an excellent presentation of the New Economic Model (NEM). Of particular interest, as far as the education system is concerned, is the courage shown by the Prime Minister to acknowledge and address critical shortcomings of the education system, and his strong desire that much needs to be done through perseverance and commitment to ‘weather the storm’.

For a shift in approach from rote learning to creative and critical thinking, the most immediate step to take would be to lessen the number of examinations within the year in schools. Presently, examinations are so frequent that little teaching can be done and subjects are skimmed through in order that the syllabus is ‘covered’.

Questions posed to students on a daily basis and during assessments, should be re-designed to be more open-ended, encouraging the student to think in a rational way, to solve problems given in a logical manner and to provide an environment where the opinion of the student is never wrong, further empowering the student to be challenged and to be confident with himself and among his friends.

Closer to our hearts, whilst we all agree that English language proficiency needs to be enhanced, for incomes to move upwards, the people need the ‘right’ knowledge in the ‘correct’ language of their chosen fields of expertise, namely, ICT, science and commerce, which will surely be the prime mover of the economy.

To overcome this weakness, the introduction of MBMMBI, which we believe has flaws by lowering exposure to the English language from 41% to a mere 21% of subject hours, only addresses language and not ‘critical’ knowledge nor ‘specialised’ language.

The change of medium of instruction from English to the mother tongue, namely Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin and Tamil, to be made effective 2011, in the teaching and learning of science and math, will further erode not just the English language, but also stifle knowledge to be gained in these very specialized areas of ICT, science and commerce, where English is, without any doubt, the lingua franca.

Having said that, unless and until the government stops subordinating the education system to political agendas, the NEM will just remain another ‘figment of its imagination’.

Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim
Chairperson PAGE

FOR OUR CHILDREN

A Matter of Fact - Revealed

Home » letters
Let the parents decide
NST 2010/03/29

I REFER to the government's contention that all parties were consulted and enough time was given before the decision to abolish the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) was made.

When the debate on PPSMI began in November 2007, the self-appointed National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) was the main adviser to the Ministry of Education, representing the national schools. The national PTA, which does not represent any parent groups, PTA or any school, chose to favour the abolition of PPSMI.

The exco of the National Union of the Teaching Profession, which did not consult its members, comprising 40 per cent of teachers, also chose to favour the scrapping of PPSMI. Hence, the affected Science and Mathematics teachers were never consulted.

The Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) had suggested to the ministry then to seek a stand from the PTAs of each and every school. This did not materialise. This would have settled the matter at hand.

Only a handful of PTAs were invited to speak on behalf of their schools at the roundtables convened by the Ministry of Education.

The educationists, scientists, bankers, the private sector and PTAs that were in attendance were unanimously in favour of the PPSMI policy being maintained.

A roundtable discussion in October 2008 of Barisan Nasional political representatives from Sabah and Sarawak, except for the Chinese parties, were in favour of PPSMI being maintained. Even Umno Youth and Puteri Umno were in favour of PPSMI being maintained.

The desire for PPSMI to be maintained was intensely evident from the findings of the roundtables.

Soon enough, after failing in a civilised forum, the ultra-nationalists, linguists, political opportunists and so-called patriots and saviours of the nation took to the streets, severely damaging the image of the country internationally and holding the government to ransom.

The new education minister made the effort to meet Chinese associations together with Malay ultras, yet parents, the true and real stakeholders at national schools, were ignored.

Findings at the roundtables were blatantly ignored and a political decision to abolish PPSMI was made at the expense of the future of the children of Malaysia.

Subsequent to that decision, all surveys and polls conducted by private entities, as well as government agencies, showed that the majority of the people were not happy with the abolition of PPSMI.

We appeal to the minister of education to uphold the spirit of the prime minister's vision of 1Malaysia -- People First -- by giving back the decision-making to the parents. Only parents, who are without hidden political agendas, can decide and know what is best for the future of their children. Allow a win-win situation where PTAs can decide to choose or reject the PPSMI.

DATIN NOOR AZIMAH ABDUL RAHIM
Chairperson
Parent Action Group for Education (Page)

FOR OUR CHILDREN

Parents wait for Education Minister’s decision to appreciate 1Malaysia, People First

We applaud the Deputy Minister of Education 1 for allowing parent-teacher associations (PTA) to discuss matters concerning the ministry’s policies.

It was never the intention of parents to oppose the decision to abolish the teaching and learning of science and math in English (PPSMI) as we believe that some schools may not have benefited from the policy as much as most schools have.

However, many students, teachers and schools have gained tremendously from PPSMI, the result of the strong determination and commitment of the respective science, math as well as English teachers along with the uncompromising and unfailing support of their school principals, who sincerely and truly believed that PPSMI is a good education policy.

Let us not deny this.

Parents are merely seeking the option of retaining the use of the English language in these two subjects where English is inarguably the lingua franca of science, commerce and ICT.

We sincerely thank our Prime Minister for respecting the spirit of the Education Act 1996 which calls for children to be educated according to the wishes of their parents.

We hope our Minister of Education is able to emulate our honourable Prime Minister in respecting and honouring the wishes of parents by giving our national schools the option to choose the new policy MBMMBI (Memartabatkan Bahasa Melayu, Memperkukuhkan Bahasa Inggeris) or maintain the present policy of PPSMI.

PAGE appeals to our Minister of Education to give national schools that option and let parents make known their wishes at the AGM of their PTAs. Then we, the “rakyat”, will truly appreciate our Prime Minister’s call for 1Malaysia, People First.

What You Can Do For Now..

Dear Supporters of PPSMI,

PAGE is working on several ideas.

In the meantime, these suggestions can be carried out by you, to continue the momentum, before we make our next move. They are:

1 Go to www.transformation.gov.my, look for the education lab and make the request for PPSMI to continue for the many schools that want it;

2 Go to 1malaysia.com.my and write to the Prime Minister about wanting PPSMI to continue in the schools that want it;

3 Go to muhyiddin.blogspot.com (subject to confirmation) and write to the Deputy Prime Minister/Education Minister about PPSMI for schools that want to continue;

4 Raise a resolution at the forthcoming PIBG AGM to retain PPSMI in your school;

5 Elect a PTA Chairman who is supportive of PPSMI;

6 Get your school and your child's school Alumni to write to the Prime Minister supporting PPSMI; and

7 Bring a memorandum supporting PPSMI to the Prime Minister when Parliament resumes on 15 March 2010.

Please help us spread the word as we need the numbers to succeed.

Thank you.

Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim
PAGE Chairperson

FOR OUR CHILDREN/UNTUK ANAK-ANAK MALAYSIA