PUTRAJAYA: The future of our schoolchildren will be compromised with the Government reversing the teaching of Science and Mathematics from English to Bahasa Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.
Dr Mahathir, who was behind the original policy of teaching both subjects in English, said his intention was to ensure that Malaysians were able to face global challenges at the earliest opportunity.
Expressing sadness on the policy reversal, he said schoolchildren would find it difficult to know more about the developments in the field of Science.
“These matters, of course, cannot be resolved overnight. But it’s the Government’s responsibility to train and supply capable teachers. I’m confident that our teachers will be able to study and teach in English,” he told reporters at his Perdana Leadership Foundation office yesterday.
Dr Mahathir said it was good that more teachers would be trained in English.
“But if we can train teachers to learn English, why can’t we do the same by training them to learn and teach Science and Mathematics in English?,” the former Prime Minister asked.
Dr Mahathir also questioned why no one protested when the medium of teaching in English in the colonial times was changed to Bahasa Malaysia.
“And at that time, not many teachers knew the national language. Now, it’s all right if we mix a little bit of Malay and English, but at the same time we need to improve the ability of our teachers too,” he added.
On his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is the Education Minister, before the new policy was announced, Dr Mahathir said he was only given a briefing.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Parents unhappy over decision to revert
KUALA LUMPUR: Many parents and students are very disappointed at the Cabinet’s decision to reverse the Teaching of Science and Mathematics policy.
Said mother of three Kam Swee Har: “Language is not just about teaching grammar and writing essays; it is the whole application of the language.
“The exposure is different when you’re learning technical subjects like Science or Maths.”
Engineer and father of four, Sulaiman Mahran, agreed: “Technical terms need to be absorbed in English, so strengthening English in general is not going to help in Maths and Science.”
Azra Banu, who has a child in Year Six, pointed out that it is the rural students who will lose out in the long run.
Businesswoman Haili Abdul Jamil, who has two children in Years One and Two, is seriously considering enrolling her children in an international school following the decision.
The impact of the decision is particularly hard on students who will enter Form Four in 2012.
Form One student Anisa Sulaiman is anxious about switching to Bahasa Malaysia in the two subjects when she gets into Form Four in 2012.
“I have been learning Maths and Science in English, so it will be difficult if we change the medium of instruction later on,” she said.
In Penang, Han Chiang High School Just English centre adviser Ooi Lay Le said the standard of English among students would drop if the two subjects were not taught in the language.
“We are going backwards,” said Ooi who has been teaching for 40 years.
SJK (C) Union Bahasa Malaysia Committee head Cheah Choo Suan, 55, said teaching the subjects in English would have helped broaden students’ knowledge of new terminologies and improve their command of the language.
Year Five student R. Abirami, 11, from SK Convent Green Lane, said it would be hard for her to adapt to the new system.
“We have memorised the scientific terms in English,” she said. “I’m afraid it will be hard to re-learn them in Bahasa Malaysia.”
In Johor, some parents are even considering sending their children to Singapore where they can learn in English.
Dr Santhi Sivalingam Moorthy, 41, said she would seriously consider transferring her three children, aged between five and 10, to Singapore schools now.
Said mother of three Kam Swee Har: “Language is not just about teaching grammar and writing essays; it is the whole application of the language.
“The exposure is different when you’re learning technical subjects like Science or Maths.”
Engineer and father of four, Sulaiman Mahran, agreed: “Technical terms need to be absorbed in English, so strengthening English in general is not going to help in Maths and Science.”
Azra Banu, who has a child in Year Six, pointed out that it is the rural students who will lose out in the long run.
Businesswoman Haili Abdul Jamil, who has two children in Years One and Two, is seriously considering enrolling her children in an international school following the decision.
The impact of the decision is particularly hard on students who will enter Form Four in 2012.
Form One student Anisa Sulaiman is anxious about switching to Bahasa Malaysia in the two subjects when she gets into Form Four in 2012.
“I have been learning Maths and Science in English, so it will be difficult if we change the medium of instruction later on,” she said.
In Penang, Han Chiang High School Just English centre adviser Ooi Lay Le said the standard of English among students would drop if the two subjects were not taught in the language.
“We are going backwards,” said Ooi who has been teaching for 40 years.
SJK (C) Union Bahasa Malaysia Committee head Cheah Choo Suan, 55, said teaching the subjects in English would have helped broaden students’ knowledge of new terminologies and improve their command of the language.
Year Five student R. Abirami, 11, from SK Convent Green Lane, said it would be hard for her to adapt to the new system.
“We have memorised the scientific terms in English,” she said. “I’m afraid it will be hard to re-learn them in Bahasa Malaysia.”
In Johor, some parents are even considering sending their children to Singapore where they can learn in English.
Dr Santhi Sivalingam Moorthy, 41, said she would seriously consider transferring her three children, aged between five and 10, to Singapore schools now.
English as an Option for Maths & Science
We have now know the decision of the government to revert back to BM and a step back in education for us. The funny part we still maintain English in Science and Maths for Form 6 and Matriculation, so how does student adapt the change here?
If this is the final decision by the government, then the government should also be fair in providing options to parentsin choosing schools that educate kids English for this 2 subjects or each school should have at least 1 or 2 classroom tocater for this purpose or have selected schools like all the LaSalle Schools and certain private schools to adapt to this method.
Another way if in a town where there is no private school or a LaSalle School then select one school to adoptthis or cater classrooms for this. As a start we may start with certain Schools in major cities. Many parents who are annoyedwould agree on this method.
Then we have a balance of both worlds for all kids and parents. We as the government and public should not be deprived ofall this in any way. Since independent days to late 70 ‘s all was in English and there was no option.
See at our past ministers and those educated in LaSalle School, compare their English, Science and also their communication skills. Then 80’s began the BM trend, where were left behind in our education standards from the rest of the region around us.
Was it our wrong policy or decision. We can’t undo what has been done.
But Dr. M tried to rectify it an many applauded especially those in cities and who know the important of English is this 2 fields or any other fields. Now, if we give options to parents they would also want the best for the kids, so does any one of us for seeing our kids being success full one day and giving him a head start plus an advantage in the world with this option.
If this is done then the rules to LaSalle school to make it a must to educate mother tongue to all students must also be implemented:-
A Chinese student must learn to read and speak mandarin,
a Punjabi kid should be able to learn to read and write Punjabi,
a Muslim student must learn to read Jawi and also understand the Quran.
All this can be implemented as a must if the parentschoose to send the kids to this kind of school so there would be a balance on both ends. Hiring language teachers plusimplementing this should be adopted or learned from our next door neighbours Singapore where every Saturday is Language dayfor students and they get together at designated schools to do so.
Then we are practicing what’s is in our constitutions freedom to preach and practice. Never to deprive any one in our country. Allow allequal access to information for the development of the nation.
The government would develop better citizens with this method plus strict implementation and monitoring on all grounds. No doubt the decision has been made on this matter, but fine tuning it would help us further. Nothing is written on concrete for usnot to change and amend accordingly for our future generation.
The advantage of this is lower on morale issues as activities is createdfor students and parents to participate. At the same time the Education Ministry may consider December Schooling to assist students who need help, students who need proper development or for those special care and morale development. It becomes like a summer school activity as in US or UK and Australia.
With Regards
from
Amarjeet Singh Sran
If this is the final decision by the government, then the government should also be fair in providing options to parentsin choosing schools that educate kids English for this 2 subjects or each school should have at least 1 or 2 classroom tocater for this purpose or have selected schools like all the LaSalle Schools and certain private schools to adapt to this method.
Another way if in a town where there is no private school or a LaSalle School then select one school to adoptthis or cater classrooms for this. As a start we may start with certain Schools in major cities. Many parents who are annoyedwould agree on this method.
Then we have a balance of both worlds for all kids and parents. We as the government and public should not be deprived ofall this in any way. Since independent days to late 70 ‘s all was in English and there was no option.
See at our past ministers and those educated in LaSalle School, compare their English, Science and also their communication skills. Then 80’s began the BM trend, where were left behind in our education standards from the rest of the region around us.
Was it our wrong policy or decision. We can’t undo what has been done.
But Dr. M tried to rectify it an many applauded especially those in cities and who know the important of English is this 2 fields or any other fields. Now, if we give options to parents they would also want the best for the kids, so does any one of us for seeing our kids being success full one day and giving him a head start plus an advantage in the world with this option.
If this is done then the rules to LaSalle school to make it a must to educate mother tongue to all students must also be implemented:-
A Chinese student must learn to read and speak mandarin,
a Punjabi kid should be able to learn to read and write Punjabi,
a Muslim student must learn to read Jawi and also understand the Quran.
All this can be implemented as a must if the parentschoose to send the kids to this kind of school so there would be a balance on both ends. Hiring language teachers plusimplementing this should be adopted or learned from our next door neighbours Singapore where every Saturday is Language dayfor students and they get together at designated schools to do so.
Then we are practicing what’s is in our constitutions freedom to preach and practice. Never to deprive any one in our country. Allow allequal access to information for the development of the nation.
The government would develop better citizens with this method plus strict implementation and monitoring on all grounds. No doubt the decision has been made on this matter, but fine tuning it would help us further. Nothing is written on concrete for usnot to change and amend accordingly for our future generation.
The advantage of this is lower on morale issues as activities is createdfor students and parents to participate. At the same time the Education Ministry may consider December Schooling to assist students who need help, students who need proper development or for those special care and morale development. It becomes like a summer school activity as in US or UK and Australia.
With Regards
from
Amarjeet Singh Sran
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