(Petaling Jaya,
Saturday):
Education
Minister, Tan Sri Musa Mohamad said yesterday that it was not his responsibility
to convince Dong Jiao Zong and Hua Zong to accept the use of English to teach
mathematics and science in Chinese primary schools.
He
said that there was no need for a meeting with representatives of the three
organizations as they must themselves evaluate as to whether the use of English
to teach mathematics and science is good or bad and to give their views.
This
is a very irresponsible and haughty attitude unbecoming of an Education Minister
of a government in a parliamentary democracy committed to public consultation, openness, accountability and
transparency.
On
Wednesday, the Education Director-General Datuk Abdul Rafie Mahat said the
Cabinet should decide as soon as possible if English would be used in the
teaching of mathematics and science in the Chinese and Tamil primary schools,
the first time in the history of Malaysian education that the tail is wagging
the body instead of the body wagging the tail!
Be
that as it may, as it is the Education Ministry which is waiting for the full
implementation of the policy to use English to teach mathematics and science in
the Chinese primary schools, the Education Ministry must have reached the
professional conclusion from studies and surveys that such a measure would lead to the upliftment of the
standards of mathematics, science and English in the Chinese primary schools –
and not the other way round resulting in the deterioration in the standards of
all three subjects among Chinese primary school pupils.l
It is
not only the responsibility of the Education Ministry to make available such
studies and reports to Dong Jiao Zong and Hua Zong, but also to the Malaysian
public and in particular the Chinese community, parents, teachers and organizations concerned about mother-tongue education and
convince them of the educational wisdom of such a switch.
To
say that he has no duty to convince Dong Jiao Zong and Hua Zong that the use of English to teach mathematics and science in
Chinese primary schools is educationally sound is the height of irresponsibility for an Education Minister
– and Musa must be made to understand that he could only adopt such a haughty
attitude if he is not an Education Minister of an elected government!
Unless
of course the Education Ministry has made no professional studies, surveys or reports whatsoever to show that the use of English to teach
mathematics and science from Standard One onwards in the Chinese primary schools
will lead to the upliftment of
standards in all the three subjects and not the other way round.
I can
accept that Musa has no responsibility to politically convince Dong Jiao Zong
and Hua Zong to accept the switch but he cannot abdicate from his responsibility
to convince them of the educational soundness and superiority of the switch, as
it is the Education Ministry which is advocating the switch.
It is
only after it
could be proved that such a switch makes educational sense, that the
political decision should be made whether to accept it – and not as at
present, demanding a political decision that the switch be accepted without any
effort to convince the Malaysian people and the Chinese community that it is
educationally sound.
DAP
has emailed Musa inviting him to the two education forums on the Education
Development Blueprint 2001-2010 tomorrow (Sunday, 28th July 2002 –
in English) and on Monday (29th July 2002 – in Mandarin) at the
Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur to present the Education Ministry
studies and reports to demonstrate that such a switch in teaching medium is educationally
sound and will result in the upliftment of the academic performance of the
Chinese primary school pupils in all the three subjects, mathematics, science
and English.
The
Barisan Nasional component parties, in particular MCA, Gerakan, SUPP and MIC
appear to have been convinced that the switch is educationally sound and are now
agonizing as to how to make the political decision to accept the switch in view
of the widespread opposition of the parents, teachers and
students of Chinese primary schools and the Chinese community.
MIC
President, Datuk Seri Samy Vellu has said that a decision as to whether Tamil
primary schools will use English to
teach mathematics and science would be made on August 10. When is the deadline
for the decision with regard to the
Chinese primary schools?
Can
the MCA, Gerakan and SUPP Ministers and leaders share with the people how they
were convinced that the use of English to teach mathematics and science from
Standard One onwards is educationally sound?
Gerakan
Deputy President, Datuk Kerk Choo Ting, said yesterday that Gerakan’s stand is
that if there is no political problem and if there is a need to change, “lets
all change together”.
Kerk
said the Chinese community emotionally feared changes to the character of the
Chinese primary schools although Gerakan did not believe the use of English to
teach mathematics and science would have such a result.
Expressing
support for the use of English to teach mathematics and science in Chinese
primary schools, Kerk said such a step is compelled by the forces of
globalization, liberalization, science and technology.
Unfortunately,
Kerk posed the false question:
“Could anyone just study only one language and not open up to other languages
under such circumstances and changes?” – mischievously implying that
those who question the educational soundness of using English to teach
science and mathematics in Chinese primary schools as Neanderthals who oppose
the study of other languages.
Kerk’s
views must have come as a shocker to all his former comrades-in-arms,
particularly in Dong Jiao Jong.
DAP
extends an open invitation to Kerk to the two public
DAP education forums tomorrow and Monday to explain Gerakan’s support
for the use of English to teach mathematics and science in Chinese primary
schools from Standard One onwards – and to respond to views contrary to the
Gerakan stand.
(27/7/2002)