We urge the Cabinet to avoid disrupting thousands of schools affecting
three millions primary school children in the country
Media Statement
by Dr Tan Seng Giaw
(Kuala Lumpur, Thursday):Most
Malaysians agree that we must raise the proficiency and popularity of
English without forgetting the mother tongues.
The Government has politicized the issue of English Maths and Science.
Yesterday, after the Cabinet meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister Dato¡¯ Seri
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said : ¡°It should not be politicized¡there should
not be any contention that the Government is trying to undermine the
position of the Chinese language. The majority has accepted the move which
is intended for all and not Chinese students only.¡± The action of the
Government will show whether it does or does not undermine the position of
the mother tongue.
We should not politicize the issue. However, if the Government is serious
about it, it should be more open and more ready to accept alternatives.
After all, we don¡¯t know if the Education Ministry¡¯s formula including
2-4-3 will work. If it doesn¡¯t, what do we do next?
Can the Government be sure that alternatives such as 1-2-3 formula would not
be effective? Introducing English early as a separate subject with good
teachers is logical. Learning Maths and Science in primary schools in the
mother tongue or home language is natural.
The Cabinet has decided that there will be ¡°no turning back¡± on the issue.
English will be taught in the ways judged by the Government.
DISRUPTION
As the Government makes the decision, about 10,000 schools are in quandary.
Nearly three millions children in primary schools will be affected. To some
extent, about two million students in secondary schools have new syllabuses.
The schools are closed for two months¡¯ holidays. They have to plan for 2003
such as teachers, syllabuses and textbooks. Now, they are waiting for the
Education Department to brief them on the details of the Cabinet decision.
To bulldoze over the teaching related to English does not augur well. The
disruption to schoolteachers and students is bad. There is unhappiness. The
Government should keep the disruption to the minimum. One way is to stop
riding roughshod over the people.
(14/11/2002)
* Tan Seng Giaw
, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong
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