Wednesday 11 August 2010

Tun Dr Mahathir speaketh..time to revisit the decision to cancel the teaching of Maths and Science in English

On Tuesday 10th August 2010, Tun Dr Mahathir launched a belated but very scathing attack on PM Najib and his Cabinet who decided to scrap the teaching of Maths and Science in English (PPSMI) in the middle of 2009 apparently under pressure from language and vernacular schools extremists.

Tun said:

-It is easy to be a language nationalist, but useless if you only only understand one language

-In order for a nation to progress, one must master the English language. That is why I proposed for science and mathematics to be taught in English.

-Science and maths is different from subjects like geography or history. In geography, no matter what language it is taught, the landscape of a country will never change. The mountains in England or Malaysia will always be there and not simply crumble.

-The knowledge of science and mathematics changes all the time. People conduct research and information is updated daily.

-This new knowledge is not coming to us in our own language. It comes to us in English, the language of knowledge. So, whether you like it or not, you have to master it.

-It was not unpatriotic if a Malaysian masters English. "In fact, you are more patriotic, because your desire to gain knowledge to help your nation's progress, and you master another language to achieve that.

read more here from the Malay Mail;What Tun M would have done...
Dr Mahathir says he would not reverse teaching of Science, Maths in English
.

I totally agree with the Grand Old Man, I did in fact commented on the decision to stop the PPSMI on many concerned blogs here, here and here and others of note way back in July 2009. I wrote:

"Education for our young in Malaysia has once again been sacrificed on the altars of political expediency. I do not believe for one minute that the cancellation of the PPSMI has got nothing to do with politics. It is inconceivable that just a little over 6 years a study could be made to show that it is a failure. I agree that the PPMSI has weaknesses in its implementation especially the teachers needs further training to speak english fluently, so, the teachers needs to be trained but no need to take the extreme step of cancelling the PPMSI altogether, we are actually moving steps back and ultimately handicapping ourselves when competing for FDIs against our neighbors in the not so distant future.

I GOOGLED the following words:
sains, science, matematik bahasa melayu, mathematics and the results are as follows:

sains 14.1 million results;
science 1 Billion results;

matematik bahasa melayu 192,000 results;
mathematics(English) 134 Million results.

Just simple GOOGLE will show that it would be more useful and beneficial and VERY important for our children to learn Mathematics and Science in the English Language.

Even though Muhyiddin say there should not be any appeal, I hope that the Ministry of Education would consider reinstating PPMSI as additional to the now agreed teaching of Science and Mathematics in Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin and Tamil.

Give Malaysian Parents the choice of what language they want their children to study Mathematics and Science. This country should not be held to ransom by the language extremists whether they are Malay Sasterawans,Gapena or the Chinese and Tamil educationist movement who threathens BN with deprivation of political votes if their demands are not met. Our children cannot earn good living or contribute to the future of this country just by reciting the sastera melayu or mandarin and tamil poems only, we need technorats, professionals versed in English and their mother tongue also to compete in this increasing globalised world.

When it is about the best education that our children should have for their secured and independent future, I say politics be damned.

So I hope that the decision to cancel the PPSMI be revisited and the views of the PARENTS who wants PPMSI for their children, and they are also a huge voters bank in the coming GE, are thoroughly considered as the consequence would be bad on the BN as I know that Pakatan will promise to introduce PPMSI as additional to the teaching of science and matematics in Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin and Tamil. Don't believe? watch and see and cry BN leaders."

I think it is not too late for the BN ruling Government to revisit their decision to cancel the PPSMI and do the right thing for the future of our children. This is one flip flop decision which many Malaysian Parents and their children would welcome.

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