Lim Kit Siang writes:
Government should respect PAGE and empower parents to decide whether to use English to teach/learn maths and science in primary/secondary schools.
During the 2010 budget debate on the Education Ministry late this evening, I called on the government to respect the Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) and to empower parents to decide whether they want their children to use English to teach/learn mathematics and science in primary and secondary schools.
I reiterated the DAP stand that maths and science should be taught in the mother tongue or home language in Std. One and spoke on the decline in mastery of the English language by Malaysian students, all the way to the university level.
The government had been talking about the importance of ensuring fluency and proficiency of English students, especially university students, but little had been achieved going by the employers’ complaints about the poor English command of graduates.
This has undermined Malaysia’s international competitiveness as English is an international language and a language of competition in the world arena.
As many parents in the country have expressed their wish that English be used as the medium for mathematics and science, I called on the Education Ministry to declare its stand on PAGE’s call to allow parents the choice of deciding whether their students in schools should use English to be taught mathematics and science.
I also called on the Education Ministry not only to allow Chinese and Tamil languages to used chosen as SPM subjects in a 10 + 2 formula, but to ensure that both subjects are recognized officially for scholarship and other official purposes.
What PAGE is asking for is very resonable: that those students, teachers and schools that benefited from the policy maintain status quo. There will be no need for re-learning of students, re-training of teachers, re-writing and re-printing of text books, scientific and mathematical knowledge continues to be gained speedily further enhancing students' potential yet saving hard-earned taxpayers' money that can be put to better use elsewhere.
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9 comments:
It's good to see PAGE gaining more traction. Well done. Keep the momentum going.
I think the Government will be in for a big surprise if they allow parents a free choice to choose whether they want Maths & Science to be in English or BM.
I like what this man is saying, and I like what he stands for too in a lot of other issues that he brings up. But I despise the fact that education is being used to gain mileage in any camp.
I am deeply depressed to note that education is politicised. What the hell on earth!!$%@#! I hate it. Our politicians should emphasise on development instead of destruction for personal gain.
MoE SHOULD give us the option to choose, it's like a condition during polling day. And of course I will choose PPSMI.
For starters, parents must ensure that PTAs are not political, at the next AGM.
Once this is achieved, it will be less easy for education to be politicised.
Still wonder why the government does not want to allow the parents to choose Then we will know the answer At this moment it may seem like it is all speculation Those who support PPSMI say that majority want PPSMI and those who anti PPSMI say otherwise
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/46456-dr-m-forsaking-english-is-the-nations-folly
By Neville Spykerman
SHAH ALAM, Dec 14 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said the government was exposing Malaysia to peril by reversing the policy of teaching maths and science in English.
“English is the language of the Knowledge Age. Countries which do not master English will not only be left behind but risk being colonised either directly or indirectly.”
Without knowledge, countries will be oppressed and even invaded, he said.
The former premier, who has not hidden his disapproval over the shift of policy which he introduced, added that it was a folly to equate patriotism to speaking the national language.
“English is not only for English people but a universal language. I am not an Englishman but I speak English.”
“Are you an Englishman?” he asked a reporter during a press conference after he delivered the keynote address at the 17th Islamic World Academy of Science conference which is being held here.
It seems that Dr M mentioned about PPSMI in this international conference. He must be very very concerned
DM and other PAGEs,
This is mind blowing. Maybe something you can share on the site.
The one at 3 minutes sends chills up my spine.
Looks like our years of advantage in English, or should we say average, passable Manglish is coming to an end.
It is time for education to be democratized in this country.
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