Turning the PAGE on PPSMI
For two years Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's administration resisted calls to maintain the teaching of science and mathematics in English (PPSMI). On 3 November 2011, the Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, declared that the decision to discontinue the PPSMI policy was final. No one, he said, had opposed him when he presented it to the cabinet in 2009.
Then, in a shock announcement on 4 November, Muhyiddin, who is also the Deputy Prime minister, bowed to parental and political pressure and reversed his decision.
Students who were currently taught in the PPSMI system could continue learning mathematics and science in English until they completed Form 5. Muhyiddin denied making a U-turn.
Earlier, the Parents Action Group for Education (PAGE), which advocates that certain schools should be allowed the option of continuing with PPSMI, did not escape Muhyiddin's wrath. He was unfazed by their threats to vote for the opposition, and dismissed them as a "minority voice".
Former Prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, under whose rule the PPSMI was introduced into schools in 2003, had earlier urged the government to have a referendum on the issue and called on Najib to override Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin's U-turn received mixed reviews. DAP's Lim Kit Siang, castigated Muhyiddin for his "flip-flop" on PPSMI and slammed him for being inconsistent in his education policy.
Former Prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi shared Lim's view and urged the government to be less fickle-minded because they were confusing the people with many changes in the education system.
Muhyiddin's apparent turnaround may have delighted the parents in PAGE but some say that this will only be a temporary stay of execution of PPSMI. Their chairman Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, who had expressed "surprise" maintains that despite the reversal, the government's decision did not fulfill the group's demands.
"We were pleasantly surprised. Perhaps it was because PAGE has been lobbying hard for this... or perhaps it is because Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad stepped into the picture". She has vowed that PAGE would continue with their PPSMI struggle: "It is not a fight... it is a struggle, a cause for our future generation.
Whilst the parents, teachers, unions and politicians battle it out, no one has asked what the student themselves think about the PPSMI. They will be affected by the government's ruling and their futures may be blighted by the lack of clear education polices.
The following opinions are from first year students at universities abroad. Their names have been kept anonymous to protect their identities.
Accounting and management undergraduate, University of Nottingham
"I think it doesn't make a difference if you're taught in English or Malay. The Japanese curriculum is taught in Japanese and they're doing well."
"People argue about the need to preserve Bahasa Malaysia. I would prefer if they stuck to maths and science in English but they should increase the hours (of learning) for Malay. I consider myself lucky that I was taught in English. I speak better English than Malay.
"You must consider the students in the rural areas too. They'll have a tough time understanding English. Perhaps, they need more English lessons."
Foundation course at Cambridge
"I feel lucky that I was taught in English. It helped me in my A-levels and at university. With this change (the abolition of PPSMI), students would struggle and would not be able to cope with their A-levels and at university."
First year undergraduate at the University of Bristol
"What! They're not teaching PPSMI at schools? That's ridiculous! It's so stupid. English is the way to go! If they're afraid the kids in schools outside of cities can't cope with English, then the only solution is to have better English teachers and intensive English courses!
"English is the international language and we need to start NOW."
PPE undergraduate at Reading University
"I am completely against the idea of maths and science being taught in Malay.
"The people who benefit from this entire concept are the teachers. Students will fall behind in classes once they leave Malaysia. And to be honest, parents will want to send their kids to international schools.
"Those who lag behind, are usually the ones who are not so well off. Thus, the government is depriving them of the opportunity to improve their standard of living.
"We'll be stuck with a generation of people who won't be able to speak the lingua franca just because they lack practice in the language itself. Hence, the entire idea of "English is useless" returns.
"Why was the government trying to promote English in the first place and then change it back? It just shows how ludicrous our government really is".
"I'm very lucky. Otherwise, I would have fallen behind in class whilst doing my O-levels and fail my A-levels. After all, A-levels are taught in English, not Malay. (but it would be funny to watch the teachers try to do so)."
Mathematics and accounting undergraduate at the University of Exeter
"I am lucky I learned maths and science in English because I can get familiar with the terms used. I did A-level mathematics and am doing a course in mathematics and accounting. It's all in English so it's not difficult to understand.
"It is weird if the government were to abolish PPSMI. I don't think they should keep changing the language of instruction. Perhaps they want to embrace the Malay language more?"
Undergraduate at a university in southern England
"Although I never went to school in Malaysia, I would find it quite tough to learn maths and science if it wasn't in English because I don't speak any other languages well enough to understand the subjects.
"It would be better to have optional classes where you can either learn in Malay or English, as different people might understand either language better. It's tough but you need to have the option or else no one will learn anything".
Engineering undergraduate, University College London
"I went to a college in England because my parents came to study in the U.K. Before I came here, my English was very poor. I left Malaysia at the end of Form 2, but then, maths and science were taught in English so, I wasn't a total stranger to English. I had no difficulty learning new things.
"If students had to learn in Malay, they will be at a disadvantage when they study overseas. Communication will be a problem.
"Nowadays, a graduate with a 3rd class degree and who possesses strong communication skills, will still be ahead of someone with a 1st class degree but who lacks any public relations skills.
"I strongly believe that if maths and science is taught in English, the person's confidence will develop. It may not be our mother tongue but the challenge to us as students will make us strive harder.
"I learnt that from the CEO of a company I worked with last summer. He told me that a degree isn't everything but confidence is the key."
Undergraduate, University of Oxford
"I am glad I was taught maths and science in English but I pity the rural school-children as their futures are in the hands of the politicians.
"People assume I have forgotten my roots just because I was taught in English. Well, they're wrong. Malay is still my national language."
Related News
