MCA Ministers should  convey Ting Chew Peh’s clear understanding that the use of English to teach maths and science will change the character of Chinese primary schools to the Cabinet on Wednesday and ask for a masterplan to raise standards of English in Chinese primary schools


Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang

(Petaling Jaya, Sunday):  MCA Secretary-General and former Cabinet Minister, Datuk Dr. Ting Chew Peh is to be commended for his clear and unambiguous understanding and  admission that teaching science and mathematics in English will change the nature and character of Chinese primary schools. 

Speaking at the 49th MCA General Assembly yesterday,  Ting outlined two possible scenarios from the use of English to teach science and mathematic in Chinese primary schools: 

slight improvement in the standard of English but sharp decline in the results for the two subjects -  the gain not worth the loss; or no improvement in English standards but decline in the standards of mathematics and science – a loss for all three subjects.

It is significant that Ting, who is Chairman of the MCA Education Bureau, did not concede that there could be any possibility for a third scenario from the change of medium of instruction – the improvement in the academic standards for all three subjects, mathematics, science and English!

The question all the four MCA Ministers should answer is why they could not see the issue as clearly as Ting.  It is tragic that Ministers or those who aspire to be Ministers, like Datuk Kerk Choo Ting, the Gerakan Deputy President, wear blinkers so that they could not see what is so obvious to ordinary laymen  – that the change in the medium of instruction in the use of English to teach mathematics and science affects the nature and character of Chinese primary schools.

This is why the assurance repeated  by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at the MCA General Assembly that there will be no change in the character of Chinese primary schools had no meaning when the government wants to replace the medium of instruction for mathematics and science in the Chinese primary schools from Mandarin to English.

The four MCA Ministers should  convey Ting’s clear understanding that the use of English to teach mathematics and science will change the character of Chinese primary schools to the Cabinet on Wednesday and formally ask the Cabinet to establish a special task force comprising representatives from the Education Ministry, interested political parties whether in government or opposition,  Dong Jiao Zong  and other educational/civic organisations to draw up a masterplan to raise the standards of English in Chinese primary schools without jeopardising the character of Chinese primary schools or the academic performance of the students in mathematics and science.   

(28/7/2002)


*Lim Kit Siang - DAP National Chairman