Muhyiddin refuses to allow English medium for MISSION SCHOOLS

KUCHING - The Education Ministry does not have plans to allow English to be used as a medium of instruction in mission schools in the country, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

"Mission schools have always been with the government and under the purview of the Education Ministry, and as such, they are part and parcel of the national education system," he told reporters here.

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, was commenting on a proposal by mission schools to use English as the medium of instruction.

He reasoned that as part of the national education system, mission schools follow the same curriculum being used in government and public schools.

He said students from these schools also sit for public examinations such as UPSR, PMR and SPM, using Bahasa Melayu as the medium of instruction.

"The salaries of the teachers and funds to help improve facilities in these schools are also from the government," he added.

He said he had given an explanation on the national education blueprint to representatives of the mission schools, who were led by Primary Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, at a recent meeting.

He said a misunderstanding has arisen because the blueprint does not mention the role of mission schools in the national education system.

"They are not mentioned because they have become part and parcel of the national education system," he explained.

"Therefore, mission schools will remain in the system and from next year, they will receive funds under a special budget for them."

He said the question of mission schools using English as a medium of instruction does not arise.

He said that it is understandable that many parents want to see the government improve the standard of English among students.

"This is what we plan to do under the educational blueprint," he said.

Muhyiddin said this after attending a dialogue with state and federal civil servants at a hotel here.

Earlier, when opening the RM46 million Medan Niaga Satok here, he announced a RM13 million allocation for improving facilities and infrastructure at the site which houses over 2,000 hawker stalls.

He also visited Datin Brawang Chunggat, the widow of the late national war hero Datuk Temenggong Kanang Langkau at her house at Kampung Sungai Apong Baru, Pending.

-thesundaily