“Education Ministry, DAP owe public an explanation on DLP,” says MCA Youth

 

AN MCA Youth leader has called out the Education Ministry (MOE) for disregarding public opinion and acting unilaterally in relation to the Dual Language Programme (DLP), calling the move akin to ignoring the wishes of parents and the interests of students.

MCA National Youth secretary-general Saw Yee Fung said the party’s youth wing, along with various education groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), have repeatedly called on MOE to withdraw its directive that schools must teach at least one class Mathematics and Science in the Malay language, and to maintain the existing conditions under the DLP.

Citing the recent official release of the latest DLP guidelines by MOE which instructs all schools to offer at least one class in the Malay language for the teaching of Mathematics and Science starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, Saw lamented that MOE had “turned a deaf ear on the voices of affected stakeholders”.

“MOE recently issued a directive that schools must prepare at least one class in the Malay language for Mathematics and Science for the 2024/2025 academic year,” she said in a statement on Monday (April 15).

“What’s even more disappointing and anxiety causing is that MOE has failed to clarify the criteria on student selection for the Malay language Mathematics and Science classes as opposed to the teaching of these two subjects in the English language.

“This decision is bound to create problems for schools and may even inadvertently lead to conflicts between parents and students, with no discernible benefits.”

Saw further questioned how the authorities were supposed to resolve the conundrum where students have learned Mathematics and Science in English since primary school but are now “forcibly reassigned” to these subjects being taught in Malay in Form 1.

“In such a situation, there is no justification or necessity for MOE to coerce schools to offer at least one class of Mathematics and Science in the Malay language,” she argued.

“MOE does not appear to prioritise the interests of students or the effectiveness of education. Rather, the ministry is purely driven by political undertones to enforce Malay language in Mathematics and Science classes, merely to portray itself as a defender of the Malay language within the unity government.”

While reiterating the youth wing’s respect for and commitment towards upholding the status of the Malay language as the national language of the country, Saw stressed that every Malaysian has the responsibility to master the Malay language.

“However, it is absurd for MOE to compel that under the DLP, at least one Mathematics and Science class must be conducted in the Malay language under the pretext of strengthening Malay language proficiency,” she argued.

“This policy appears to exploit schools and students to achieve its political objectives rather than genuinely seeking to enhance students’ Malay language skills.

“Moreover, how does studying Mathematics and Science strengthen proficiency in the Malay language? This reasoning clearly lacks logic.” – Focus Malaysia