Thursday, October 22, 2009

1M school, multiple teaching mediums?

An opinion poll in 7 schools in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur shows that 97 % of the parents (respondents) wanted the schools to continue teaching Mathematics and Science in English. 97 % is almost a unanimous decision. So how are you going to react, Mr Minister of Education, sir?

  1. 24 hours is a long way to go. Why worry about 1M PM6 Najib's budget presentation when his deputy Muhyiddein is getting mixed reaction on PPSMI (Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematiks dalam Bahasa Inggeris).
  2. An opinion poll in 7 schools in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur shows that 97 % of the parents (respondents) wanted the schools to continue teaching Mathematics and Science in English. 97 % is almost a unanimous decision. So how are you going to react, Mr Minister of Education, sir?
  3. Parents action group for education wants all national schools to be given the option to continue PPSMI.
  4. In August 2009, the education DG warned teachers to continue adapting PPSMI until 2012. Summarily, it means that the ministry is serious in discarding PPSMI policy.
  5. On 20th October 2009, Muhyiddein stated that his ministry is looking into the possibility of scrapping PPSMI in 2011, a year ahead of schedule.
  6. 2 days later, the opinion poll result is released to the public. What gives? How is the government going to react to this opinion poll?
  7. Granted that the poll is taken in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor where parents are more adaptable towards English as a teaching and learning tools. But the question posed to Muhyiddein - can we go on with PPSMI and offer that as an option in selective schools, especially in urban areas?
  8. The government has spent millions to train teachers in preparation of PPSMI. Are we going to lost that millions by abandoning PPSMI?
  9. Muhyiddein has been quick in coining the words "memertabatkan Bahasa Kebangsaan dan memperkasakan Bahasa Inggeris". So what now? Are we going to offer the options to urban schools?Only urban schools? What about rural schools? Are we going to abandon rural schools and will not offer them the option to continue PPSMI?
  10. 1M PM6 has been gunning for 1Malaysia, 1 Nation, 1this and 1that. Is he going for 1wife too? If we were to take the opinion poll at face value, maybe 1school system may not work...
  11. Instead, will it be probable for 1M school to be converted to 1M multiple medium schools? I mean will we be reverting back to the early Merdeka years when parents (and students) were given the option to study in English or Malay medium. Maybe we can expand that further to English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil medium? Or will we be expanding it further to include the Jawa, Bidayuh, Penan medium as well?
  12. It was a noble idea to abolish PPSMI for Bahasa Malaysia. Now, it seems that the parents (in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor) is sending a strong signal for the government to offer alternatives and options to their children.
  13. If the government has the peoples' welfare at heart, the following can be an alternative to please the majority of the parents with school-going children :-

    • Parents has the option to send their children either to National schools or to English medium schools at primary school levels;
    • Those who opt to go for English medium schools may need to go for entry test (if the demand is higher than the seats available);
    • At UPSR level, the children will sit for the exam in either Bahasa Malaysia or English;
    • Those who excel will be selected to attend boarding schools - with National schools students placed in MRSMs', SMSs' whilst the English medium students placed in MCKK, TKC, STAR, SDAR;
    • From Form One onwards, a new subject will be introduced ie Technical Malay or Technical English. If a student is in National schools, he will be taught Technical English whilst Technical Malay will be taught in non-National schools. The aim of the subject is to prepare students for higher learning class where National school students may be sent to overseas (UK, USA, Australia, NZ where English is the medium for learning) or when non-National school leavers enter local colleges and Universities (where Bahasa malaysia is the medium for learning);
    • Technical Malay and Technical English is a compulsory subject where Science students need to get good grades for entry to tertiary education;

  14. Of course, the proposal is still in raw condition and can be refined further. I believed that this is a better solution and a win-win solution to all parties involved. The question is - will the government listen?
  15. AAB used to say that he listen to the peoples voice. 1M PM6 Najib thrive on his ability to feel the peoples pulse. Is he feeling the peoples pulse now? If he does, what is his next action? Continue to abandon PPSMI? Will he nudge Muhyiddein to consider 1M multiple teaching medium?
  16. Muhyiddein cannot afford to suggest that the 97% of the parents from these 7 schools to send their children abroad if they prefer to study in English. That is not the solution. Will Muhyidden able to rise and meet this simple challenge from 95% parents from these 7 schools? Actually, it is not even a challenge. It is just a request for an option. Is it too much to ask?
  17. Muhyiddein can sleep on this, if he wants to...but I am looking anxiously at what 1M PM6 Najib may be tabling tomorrow...

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are...

5 comments:

sunwayopal said...

Its the same.

The Malay rural heartland and the Sabahans and Sarawakians is the last bastion of defence for Barisan Najis.

They will do anything to pls this electorate community.

No matter what they do, Barisan Najis has lost the urban vote.

NC,

You have to think of this as less of whether its good for the schoolchildren or not.......look at it from the point of view who Barisan Najis is trying to pls.

And school children b damned.





sunwayopal
http://www.myrealestate.com.my

nightcaller said...

Sunwayopal

The Malay rural heartland? It doesn't belongs to BN anymore. Proof is in Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu. Terengganu and Perlis is unique because BN puuls through with non-Malay votes.

As for Sabah and Sarawak, PKR needs to paly their cards right. If PKR leaders still refuse to listen to the ground then Sabah will be gone, safe into BN's embracing arms.

For Sarawak, hopefully the new Sarawak PKR leader can pull together PR and present it as a solid front. Too many fractions there...

As for Urban votes, PR needs to present a unified front. BN is trying to break up PR through hearsays and accussations.

Back to school, I strongly believe that the parents should be given the option either to send their children to National schools or to English medium schools.

sunwayopal said...

Its very hard and not conducive for 'national integration'. We already have 3 streams now, Malay, Chinese and Indians.

How to foster more national unity ? One more stream english?

I am all for one stream only. National unity should prevail.

Frankly if u ask me, i say english. Chinese and Indian sorry to say, has to be abolished once and for all.


sunwayopal
http://www.myrealestate.com.my

nightcaller said...

Sunwayopal,

I did not see anything wrong in giving an option for English medium schools for Maths and Science subjects. Since we have the teachers trained to do that, so why let their talents go to waste? Further, English is still the language widely used in Science subjects.

We want our students to excel in their Science studies so we have to provide ample support for them to seek knowledge. The many english textbooks and reference books will open our students mind to the vast universe of knowledge.

There is nothing wrong in giving the option. The infrastructure is already there. We do not have to build additional schools nor do we need to build additional labs. The parents decide the option, and it can be easily done because the syllabus is still the same , only the teaching medium differs.

With that option, schools will still be using Bahasa Malaysia to teach geography, history and the rest. It still "memertabatkan Bhasa Malaysia, memperkasakan Bahasa Inggeris"...

sunwayopal said...

What you say is correct. Except for one thing. Politically, UMNO can say they are not less 'Malay' now than PAS having changed it back.

Previously when it was taught in English, PAS was having the upper hand.

Thats why I say this issue has everything to do with politics and nothing to do with education per se.



sunwayopal
http://www.myrealestate.com.my