No turning back - Sarawak to continue teaching science, maths in English: Annuar

 

By hook or by crook, Sarawak will continue with its policy to teach Science and Mathematics subjects in English, said Sarawak Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Annuar Rapaee.

He said that there will be no turning back as far as the policy is concerned and the state government had spent RM18 million on facilities, training of teachers, and books since it started the Dual Language Programme four years ago.

“We are doing it and there is no turning back for us. We will go all the way till the students reach Form Five,” he told reporters after officiating at the closing of the Sarawak zone vocational college skills competition at the Sibu Vocational College in Sibu today.

He was asked to comment on former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s call recently for the government to reinstate the use of English as the teaching language for Science and Mathematics subjects in schools.

Annuar (above) said making English a compulsory subject is more important than making it mandatory to pass History papers to get a full Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia certificate.

"Why History (subject) is so important? History is important but to make it a mandatory pass subject is a bit too farfetched to me. Should have made English a mandatory pass subject,” he said.

A bit too harsh

He said History lessons should not be taught during school hours only but every day.

“We appreciate what we have attained after the formation of Malaysia but making it compulsory to pass to get full certificate is a bit too harsh. I think they (Education Ministry) need to be flexible there,” he said.

Annuar, who is also the chairperson of the board of directors of University of Technology Sarawak, described the requirement as not fair and inappropriate for diploma holders from vocational colleges who are sitting for Bachelor’s degree at universities.

“They could not graduate from university because they did not pass History paper at SPM level. I think this is absurd,” he said.

Vocational college being the ground for technical and vocational education and training does not teach academic subjects like History.

Annuar said university students from vocational background could learn and sit for History paper when doing their degree, but it should not be made mandatory.

- Bernama