The Malaysian Insight

TWO Chinese education groups are divided over Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s intention to re-introduce teaching science and mathematics in English in schools nationwide.

Dong Zong chairman Tan Tai Kim said the original policy, known as PPSMI, had been a failure after it was first introduced in 2003, leading to its eventual scrapping.

“I hope Dr Mahathir will not repeat the same mistake, only to fail again,” Tan told The Malaysian Insight.

Dr Mahathir is also acting education minister, following the resignation of Dr Maszlee Malik from the post earlier this month.

On Friday, the prime minister announced he planned to bring back English as the medium of instruction for science and mathematics in schools.

However today, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the plan was still in the early stages.

“The discussion to revive the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English (PPSMI) is still at the early stages. There is no decision yet,” she said at an event in Klang.

Tan said it was widely known that a student’s mother tongue is the most effective medium of instruction, and that this had been acknowledged by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

“It is easier to comprehend when subjects are taught in the mother tongue at primary level.

“If you use a non-native language, students will not be able to comprehend easily, so that is why we are against it in primary schools,” he said.

Meanwhile, another group said students’ inability to master the English language at primary level causes them to struggle with learning in secondary school.

Zhong Hua Language Education Loving Parents Network Association (Jia Zong) adviser Edward Neoh said he had experience of this with his daughter.

“She got all As for her UPSR but she struggled in secondary school because of the different medium of instruction,” he said.

Neoh said this was a common problem for vernacular primary school students who did well at that level, but found their studies difficult at higher levels due to their poor command of English.

So, for this reason, Neoh said Jia Zong supported Dr Mahathir’s plans.

He even agreed that having English as the sole medium of instruction for these subjects was a good move, as it would students adapt at tertiary level and in professional environments when they embarked their careers.

Meanwhile, Tan, who held that students learnt better in their mother tongue, said the organisation was seeking a meeting with Dr Mahathir now that he holds the education portfolio.

In his meeting with ministry officials, Dr Mahathir has called for teaching of science and mathematics in English.

“Science and mathematics are not indigenous fields of knowledge.

“They come from abroad, and most of it comes to us in English. Therefore, we are going to use English in teaching the subjects.”

He also said students who learnt science in Malay were later unable to find work in companies where English proficiency is required.

“We want to promote the use of English and mastery of the language in our education system.

“This is very important. We must give time for learning English, in particular, in the learning of science and mathematics,” said Dr Mahathir, who was also education minister in the 1970s.

PPSMI was introduced in 2002 during Dr Mahathir’s first term as prime minister. It was pushed through despite protests from vernacular school supporters, educators and parents.

The policy was intended to arrest the declining English proficiency among students, particularly Malays. It was abolished in 2009, when Najib Razak took over as prime minister.

At present, students in some schools learn science and mathematics in English under the voluntary dual-language programme. – February 2, 2020.