Groups give ministry time to review English policy

Many educationist groups have welcomed the Education Ministry’s willingness to continue to listen to various views before making a decision on the policy of teaching Mathematics and Science in English.
Linguist and former Universiti Malaya Academy of Malay Studies director Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Nik Safiah Karim was happy that Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was not in a hurry to make a decision.
“I hope he will listen to all views before a decision is made by the Cabinet,” she said.
Muhyiddin, who is Deputy Prime Minister, said he was willing to listen to more views and accept memoranda on the issue before bringing the matter to the Cabinet for a decision.
Dr Nik Safiah said due recognition should be given to Bahasa Malaysia as the national and official language, adding that there were other ways of improving the standard of English such as by increasing the number of periods in school.
The Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (better known by its Malay acronym PPSMI) policy was implemented in phases, beginning with Year One, Form One and Lower Six students in 2003.
Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abd Rahim said the ministry should only assess the policy after the pioneer batch sat for the SPM examination in 2013.
Gerakan Mansuhkan PPSMI (GMP – Movement for the Abolition of Teaching and Learning Science and Mathematics in English) chairman Datuk Dr Hassan Ahmad said GMP’s stand was clear.
“We want the Government to revert to the original policy before 2003 as it was successful,” he said.
National Laureate Datuk A. Samad Said, who is a member of the GMP, said the authorities had contravened the Constitution by switching the language of instruction from Bahasa Malaysia to English.
“Our members, who include Malay scholars and educators, are not against the English Language. But it is wrong to implement a policy in a hurry with no regard to the negative consequences.
“Language is a reflection of our identity. Our country will lose that identity when this policy is implemented,” he said yesterday.