Malaysia - 'Come up with proper solution' (Education)

KUALA LUMPUR- The MCA and MIC want the Education Ministry to come up with a solution that will be mutually beneficial to all parties involved in the issue of the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the party felt there had to be clear guidelines that would help to end any confusion in the matter.

"Our stand is very clear... the stakeholders must have a choice. And we continue to uphold our stand that there is a need to arrest our declining standard of English," he said in a statement yesterday.

Dr Chua said students, who had already been learning these two subjects in English, should be allowed to continue. There should not be any disruptions, he added.

Dr Chua, together with MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, had met Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin on the issue, which seems to have divided many parents, students and teachers.

"It is good that this controversy has shown how urgent it is for us to ensure that we take urgent steps to improve our children's proficiency in the English Language.

"We understand that it is good to have the option to use English to teach Science and Mathematics, but we were also briefed about the difficulty in implementing it, if parents were given the choice," Dr Chua said.

He said the MCA had proposed that the Education Ministry should introduce English Literature as a compulsory subject in schools in an effort to strengthen the students' command of English.

Dr Chua said that the MCA had taken note of the measures carried out by the ministry to address the declining standard in English.

"Retired teachers can also be hired as many are still healthy and willing to contribute their skills to the nation.

"There should be a special allowance for teachers who sign up to teach English Literature in secondary schools."

MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel, in wanting the ministry to reconsider its decision to scrap the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, said the government should not rush into things but should consider the matter carefully.

"We have to consider the ongoing public reaction."

Palnivel said that when he was at the Merlimau by-election held last March, a group of parents had presented a memorandum to him on the matter.

Palanivel, who is minister in the Prime Minister's Department, felt the ministry should carefully listen to the reactions and suggestions from parent-teacher association's, parents and also non-governmental organisations on the matter.

"We do not want a backlash from angry parents."

He felt the ministry should also consider various options like teaching Science and Mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia and English.

"It's still not too late. We can still reconsider the decision with public sentiment in mind," said Palanivel.

B. Suresh Ram

New Straits Times

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