1. It is quite amusing to see this never ending circus regarding the teaching of science and mathematics in english in our local schools. Why is it so difficult to come to a decision? In fact the decision was already made by the the former PM (endorsed by the cabinet on the 19th of July 2002) who knew exactly how such a long awaited move would benefit the Malaysian children (he dares to do what is right but not necessarily popular) but politicians today fall to unfounded pressures by certain quarters who claim that teaching these subjects in english will put the malay children at a disadvantage position especially those who come from the rural areas. What is your opinion based upon? gut feeling? own insecurities? and most important of all… why only bring it up now?
2. How dare they belittle these malay students before they even attempt it? The ministry revealed that results were actually better when it was taught in English. So who is advising these people? Is this another branch agenda of the ketuanan melayu folk tales which will make the malays less of a malay if they mastered the “foreign” language? Even if their gut feeling tells them so, dont they think that perhaps we should change this “curse” and get back into the race? Or do they fully subscribe to the notion of “fait accompli”?
3. I remember when i was enrolled in the pre-university college with the rest of the student headed for the USA or UK, I was from the “minority” group that would speak and think in english. And those who did not (the village “samseng cowboy” types), would make it very uncomfortable for us city kids when we spoke in english even among ourselves. Actually now i realize it was their own little way of hiding their own shortcomings. Funny enough as we went through the course, these “cowboy” students dropped out one by one because when you are heading to the US or UK, you learn in english! I think those who benefited from overseas education would appreciate the importance of mastering the english language as a life tool to succeed. It is not just another language but the means to an end.
4. So it does not matter how many A’s you scored in your exam that earned you the “right” to be chosen to go abroad in the name of furthering one’s education, if you can’t master the english language then the furthest you will go is to the bus station heading back to your home where chances are it was those surroundings that made you a “language racist” to begin with? And it is this same surroundings today that is haunting the politicians day and night to fight the ruling on teaching maths and science in english. Why put the politicians at ransom? They know what is best for the children but at the same time they also need your votes!
5. I was from the unfortunate era where EVERYTHING was taught in malay (I did my SPM in 1989) and it was also during my time (80’s) that the numbers of predominantly malay students were given scholarships to study abroad in bigger numbers than earlier years. My point is this, why do we bother to uphold the bahasa malaysia when in reality, the bangsa melayu will die standing when they face the real world out there? It’s ironic isn’t it?
6. If the sole aim of our education system deeply soaked in bahasa malaysia is to create only the Samad Said’s of this world then fine but if we hope to see leaders worthy of global competition or even of local use, then please drill hard into our students and their PARENTS (even from Kokdiang in Kedah) that without english, we will be handicapped for the rest of our lives. No one can argue this. Please see (www.ninitalk.wordpress.com) on the same subject matter which inspired me to write on this. One is better off speaking broken english than perfect bahasa for most things in life that would earn that person an income to live and feed his family and hopefully buy english books for his children so they don’t suffer the same fate as he does.
7. I was lucky to be in a top city school Victoria Institution and grew up in KL where my parents were english speaking and thinking people. I “think” in english and i think this is the most important reason why I am what I am today. Let’s not kid ourselves. Enough of this jaguh kampung aspiration and maruah “bahasa nasional” crap because in reality, malaysians especially the malays will be left OUT of the race due to their non ability to “think” in english! Not left behind but left out. The world is an english world and not a malay world.
8. The issue here is bigger than just teaching maths and science in english. The issue is how to make our education system prepare us for the global world. English as a language is just a medium of communication but the substance of knowledge that Malaysian children must be equipped to be at par with the rest as they progress through life is not carefully thought about and taken into consideration. Education is not what we memorize but it is what we remember…
9. We will never forget our bahasa malaysia no matter how hard we try. So if it makes it any better for us to stand a remote chance of becoming a “cemerlang, gemilang and terbilang” Malaysian equipped with a mind that “THINKS” in english, then please for god’s sake continue what Tun Dr Mahathir had already carefully thought of for the sake of our nation’s future. Let’s all make it a different “fait accompli”…
shaik rizal sulaiman
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You know, I appreciate it when Bahasa Malaysia is beautifully spoken. I am always shy in front of people who are really fluent in BM because I know my Malay is not very elegant, even if I do get myself understood. Every time I hear someone speak well in BM, I make mental notes of the words he/she uses for my own use later.
But apart from pride in my own language, the application of it is unfortunately rather limited. Every meeting I go to overseas (and frequently also at home, even with government people) is conducted in English. I cant even sit and discuss anything with the global ummah except in English. So my knowledge of my own religion is being expanded, but in English. That’s a fact of life.
I think we should stop thinking of English as the language of colonialists but the international language. It is futile to dispute that. In China, millions of people are learning English just to catch up with the world and take their rightful place in it. Unless we don’t intend to join the world, we need English.
I am curious however to know something: if someone suggested that instead of English, we learnt Maths and Science in Arabic, what would our language champions say?
I’ve had a different experience with language(s) and am not so worked up – for or against Malay/English. I can accept many points of view on this issue.
As a linguist who taught English/ Malay language and literature, and linguistics (the science of language) for almost 35 years I can say that my experience is hands on. I taught students in secondary school (7 years) and university (25 years) from both the urban and rural areas and in between, and the differences between them were stark – in terms of language proficiency, subject specialisation, social skills, communication skills, attitude and personality!
The educational/ linguistic chasm between the urban and rural areas will only grow wider as the towns and cities get more and more developed and the rural areas struggle to keep pace! It’s the same on the economic front! And on all other fronts.
There must be innovative, even revolutionary ways of teaching English and equally of Maths and Science. The government must really take development and educational infrastructure to the rural areas before the situation worsens!
If you don’t have good teachers for the 3 subjects, one of the most effective ways of drilling good models of English into the population is via language tapes which can be effectively transmitted through the student’s own tape recorders or language labs. Similarly Maths and Science can be taught via television, video tapes and video conferencing. The Chinese have successfully implemented this!
No more excuses! Find the money to equip rural schools with these facilities while the teachers are being trained and retrained! This is the only quick and ready solution!
I greatly admire the literary achievements of Samad Said. His command of Malay, both written and oral, is superb. I struggled to “relearn” Malay when I had to teach BA and MA Linguistics from 1991. This I did by reading the Malay papers, magazines and journals (on top of poorly translated linguistics books) every single day. I made a concerted effort!
And I’m proud to say that I can read and write (and teach) in Malay at the formal and academic levels. I’m as proud of Malay as any of the so-called language nationalists!
But perhaps, unlike some of them, my command of English is very good!
I did my PhD in the Netherlands., another As a member of staff, I was required as per my work permit to learn Dutch. If I wanted to remain working in NL, I would have to pass the necessary Dutch language courses. The funny thing is everyone in NL speaks English so it was very easy for me to be lazy and not have to learn the language the 4 years I was there. Although the Dutch communicated in Dutch amongst themselves and socially, at the professional level they realized the importance of being able to express themselves in English. Even at world class Universities, the academics struggled to publish in English centric journals, as the Dutch ones had an extremely limited audience. They realized that other than in their own country, their language is pretty much useless. Their competitive edge in fact was their ability to converse/communicate in English. This is what Malaysia needs to realize. That its competitive edge is the human resource. that can communicate in a global language. The sanctity of Bahasa Malaysia has to be upheld in Malaysia as it is the national language and unifies those that may prefer to remain under the tempurung, but dont put those who do want to be global citizens at a disadvantage by not appreciating the necessity to be able to communicate globally.
i am a school teacher who is indirectly involved in ppsmi. my experience and observation is that ppsmi has done wonders to both the non english speaking teachers and students and they are doing perfectly fine but the champions of bahasa melayu in their narrow sense of nationalism have again rocked the boat ,thus putting the innocent enthusiasts in limbo again.Why all this intervention ? And the polticians too ! why are they saying that ppsmi is an experiment which has proven to be disadvantageous to the malays but at the same time saying that it contravenes the Education Act.If it is so,the experiment should not have been done.Such contradiction shows clearly many politicians think lowly of the rakyats’ mental capacity which in turn shows their own shallow argument.worst is that they are saying that ppsmi can be implemented at secondary level.all the rhetorics serve to garner votes for themseves at the upcoming assembly.It is their interest not the young generation’s interests that matter, A chinese colleague sincerely asked me why are the malays against ppsmi when the whole idea was to advance them ? Exactly ! Our former PM knew what and why he had to do and that is for the majority of the princes of the soil (who have no means nor competitiveness to go for tuition)to be in the race and not be left behind or as shaik puts it left out.Why compare with Japan or Korea ? Surely everybody knows that theirs is a homogeneous society,as such the race is not between different races! Common sense though not common tells us that english competency gives one the competitive edge but our chaunivinists think that ketuanan melayu overides the need for global melayu with the right thinking cap who can compete in their own country and not depend on the government to absorb them in post uni programs and the like.Is tihis what ketuanan melayu is ? If it is , then i would rather not be the tuan who begs !
I think it is small-minded and short term for those who argue that Math and Science in English is a handicap for rural students who don’t speak English at home. I say, which is worse “to make them think that they are smart and later find out that they cannot compete”?, or give them a chance to learn early and at least have a shot in the real world later?
1. MOE needs to find more effective ways to train teachers in delivering the subjects in English
2. MOE should treat this as a “programme” – meaning with clear measurable goals and performing index – for example:
a. 50% of science stream students get placements in foreign/English medium universities/colleges,
b. 15% annual growth in number of students taking science-based courses in colleges/universities,
c. 80% of students in foreign/English medium universities and colleges feel more confident to take on subjects and don’t feel “handicapped” by the language
d. 15% annual improvement in English exams scores
e. 20% annual growth in students registering for ESL exams and passing
3. MOE should treat this with a clear timeline – ie 15 years to see the difference or to achieve above goals. Just like MOE’s KBSR and KBSM programmes.
4. MOE should stick to their guns and make it clear to all parties not to POLITICISE this matter – I disagree with DAP saying that Math and Science should be in mother tongue. That is just politically-motivated and serves little benefit to students who will have to compete in a WIDELY English-speaking world.
5. MOE should interview past KPP/PPP/ATU/AUSMAT/UK students and ask them how many felt handicapped in their science subjects while studying in their overseas university/college. I can bet you almost 90% at some point felt handicapped, and maybe as high as 40% of science-course students switch to business/non-science courses because cannot cope in English.
6. MOE should also incorporate psycho-socio studies with Ministry of Human Resource to find out
a. How many employers “complain” that new science graduates have poor English and thus poor communication skills?
b. How many “young employees” (engineers/architects/doctors) feel “shy/embarrassed” to speak in English thus hampering their career growth?
I just think MOE officers are not thinking hard enough on how to defend this policy.
It is a good policy and should be continued for future of Malaysian workforce.
I do hope that math n science will continue to be taught in english… In the long run.. i trust it will do more good than harm. Our leaders should not just look at how these kids do at exams..but we should look beyond that… beyond school… beyond the elementary years… beyond uni… it is when they come to the workforce.. face the world .. meet the intnl competition…. especially in today’s globalisation era…
I think 7 years is too short a time for us to come to a conclusion on whether or not the system works.. It is a bit too premature……to change the syllabus… if and when done … it will definitely be at the expense of our youngs… they r the future of our nation …we should not be expreimenting them… n especially not succumb to the selfish needs n desire of certain quarters….That is indeed very sad…
We should look at the first batch of those who started learning sc n mth in eng fr year one.. n let them …… What our leaders must do now… is to train our teachers better.. have a structured long term training program to better equip our teachers … with storng comannd of the language…
We should also look at improving the communication skills of our kids… yes… when i was at uni… the msian students were the “shy & quiet ” batch… hardly heard during tutorials let alone during lecture ….
Lastly… my heart yearns… come 2012…as both my boys will be affected… one will be in Form 4,… to learn new terms in malay n ready himself for SPM in 2 years… The other will be in year 4… Good Lord!!! For those who are lucky enough to have the choice have the kids continue learning math n sc in eng … we r indeed v lucky.. but to those who do not have the choice… the disparity gap will continue to be steeper…………… How sad…. I do hope that DPM’s annoucnement in Perth recently is true.. or will it be a series of flip flop.. again… ….
The politicians from the period of Tun Abdul Razak killed Malaysian English Language and latter pretended to lift it through Science and Maths; and are continuouly killing it.
It is the story of inferiority complex and the inability of the teachers to teach in English. They lack so badly because they are not sinserein learning.They feel insecure. They mock at their own when they try to talk. The feeling of insecurity is immense.