PUTRAJAYA, 16 July 2009: The cabinet’s decision to abolish the teaching of science and mathematics in English is final, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.
The deputy prime minister said although there were calls for the policy to be retained at the secondary school level, the government must be consistent in its stand not to maintain the status quo.
The important thing now was to find ways to improve the command of the English language among students, he said.
This included calling up English language experts as soon as possible for their input to draft a new curriculum, Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said after presenting service awards to the ministry staff.
“Each [cabinet] decision must be consistent. [The views] may have rationale because they are based on experience, and I’m not saying that they are not good, but in this context, we must be consistent after making such a big decision,” he said.
The cabinet, on 8 July, decided to revert to the use of the Malay language in the teaching of the two subjects for national schools and to the vernacular languages for Chinese and Tamil schools.
It also announced the strategy to uphold the Malay language and strengthen the command of the English language at all levels in school.
The MCA, which supported the move for primary schools, has called for the English language to be maintained for teaching science and mathematics in secondary schools. — Bernama
kanna says
Don’t forget that in a democracy the people make the final decision.
Gopal Raj Kumar says
For there to be an issue as to how to deliver the subjects of Maths and Science, reveals a profound lack in depth of thinking overall.
Maths is a language of its own. It was historically communicated in the languages of Sanskrit (the birth place of much of it which the British conveniently called the Arab numerals now known by its more accurate identity: The Hindu Arab Numerals), then Mandarin, Ancient Greek and Roman.
It is also widely known that in Malaysia Maths and Physics are taught highly effectively in Chinese (Mandarin) at vernacular schools.
Malays should not be disadvantaged and neither should others if the subject were taught in Arabic. There is much logic if it were introduced at primary level in Arabic (or Jawi) as it is otherwise referred to in Malaysia.
Children have unpolluted and clearer minds and can absorb like spongues. It gives them an added advantage. I am speaking about basic Arabic. Malays who study the Quran would become very familiar with the subject and it will serve to assist those who are ignorant and reliant on deviant interpretations of the Quran to seek out and learn about it without the necessity of absorbing the distortions in western propaganda on the subject. It may well be the catalyst for the unity Malaysians so desperately seek.