Call to reverse policy on English

[idolfan]

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/...cle/indexb_html

Pas Youth and the Chinese educationist movement Dong Jiao Zong (DJZ) today urged the Government to abolish the use of English to teach Science and Mathematics.

This has been the problem with malaysia's education policies.. too much political interference.... in top universities in China they are using english and in arab countries they are using english and here we are not sure what to do.

[penangkia]

Why can't we be like Singapore...Bahasa Melayu as the National Language and English as the official language for all communications. It has worked so well to unite peoples of all races not just because it is an international common language, but it creats an atmosphere where no one feels advantaged or disadvantaged when dealing with one another. Learn mother tongue yes, by all means and speak it too, whenever and whereever is appropriate.Don't lose that either.

After all these years, pride and kiasuism is still holding all of us back and blinded the real meaning of learning English. One of the reasons why we can attract foreign investments despite our higher costs within Asean, is because the average Malaysian speaks English, and for that we have to thank our colonial masters.I sadly see us losing this valuable advantage one generation after another to neighbouring countries who have seen the value of the language.

Even the proud French, Germans, Dutch, Swiss etc. have to use English when they come out into the real world. The Chinese, Arabs, Koreans, Japanese are all hot into learning this language. The Indians have never really lost this colonial hangover which will work towards their advantage when they compete with China for western investments.

So it's bloody mind boggling why some people still do not want their young to learn this important and useful language apart frrom the fact that it is also a beautiful language. For once, the govt. has woken up and started to go in the right direction.

Just listen to the manner in which many of the youngsters of today speak English...even some of those who scored on the subject.
I too passed my BM but forgotten all about it now, because I only study to pass an exam.

To Pas and DJZ..shame on you. :(

[idolfan]

I would hazard a guess that Chinese type schools are thriving just because Nat'l schools are of poor quality.. at least most.

If the minister only rolls up his sleeves and get to the crux of why nat'l schools even in urban areas are of poor quality ..

headmasters who are not-capable and as a result do not monitor their teachers.. who unfortunately are too busy giving tuition.....

If nat'l schools are able to raise their standards and have very good mandarin and tamil programmes as well, then sjk(chinese) would see enrolment falling.

English and BM will hopefully still remain as the main languages of teaching.. very soon DBP and UMNO will start as well.. and unless minister holds firm we are in for another turnaround.

May I suggest to the moderator to start an education issues thread with a sticky so that parents , who are never consulted , may have their say on all education issues.. at least in cyberspace.

[balitan]

education at the threat of politics..................

those good old days of the sixties and early seventies when we studied
in english........
then later, everything was taught in BM.......
till now, our generasi muda in the uni can't speak a word of good english
definitely mahu dapat kerja sangat susah , except if you work for gomen
if in the private sector, you have to be able to speak english.........
our uni lecturers were given special incentives to translate books into BM
by the time technical books are published, all the info already out of date
work in vain ...........
then we see a particular species dominate all the teaching positions in the
public uni, lain-lain spesis in the private uni...........................
then party politik set up uni masing-masing , this is not something bad but
good , at least spesis lain can have chan to study.............
spesis lain after graduate, work in private sector .....................

and propagate more spesis ..............................

this is malaysia boleh cerita ................................

[kwchang]

May I suggest to the moderator to start an education issues thread with a sticky so that parents , who are never consulted , may have their say on all education issues.. at least in cyberspace.
This is now in a new Channel, not just a sticky thread. You may now post new threads on Education.

[idolfan]

Thxs kw.. hopefully we be able to focus attention rgds education here.

[xaviers]

We Malaysian are a bunch of sorry, complaining people.

We need to accelarate faster or we are going to lose out. English is the only way to handle globalisation head on. Whether we like it a not it is coming and cannot be avoided.

[idolfan]

PMR MATHS & SCIENCE TRIAL EXAM
Students perform poorly, teachers concerned

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Frontpage/20050916075539/Article/indexb_html


I hope there are no knee-jerk reactions after the actual PMR results are known. Current results show how low the level of English among the Secondary students after six years of primary school without due attention to improving their English. Unfortunately these students and those currently in primary 4 to 6 are caught in between..

those currently in primary three and below should continue with what they have.. lets hope officials don't make them suffer by implementing changes next year .

[jessi24]

Government should have a better way for implementing changes. ie. maybe starting from a particular year, starting from primary 1 itself. Those who were already taking the subjects in the BM medium should continue.

[idolfan]

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/9/23/nation/12125510&sec=nation

On Prof Nquyen’s visit, Hishammuddin said Vietnam was eager to learn from Malaysia’s success in teaching Mathematics and Science in English.

“While they want to learn that from us, we need to learn how they instil a love for Mathematics and Science among their students,” he added.