Some parents have alleged that the education ministry is undermining the Dual Language Programme and that the teaching of English in our schools has been politicised to appease the nationalists.
There have been claims that the principals of top national full DLP schools have introduced non-DLP classes and transferred students into them, despite parental objections.
An education ministry circular dated 15 April stated that at least one class had to teach science and mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia.
Many parents, including the Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE), would like the education minister, Fadhlina Sidek, to retract her latest directive.
On 5 June, eleven schools in Penang openly objected to the education ministry’s directive about the DLP. School representatives claim that many parents and pupils are suffering from mental health issues because they feel that their interests are not being respected by the ministry.
They allege that school leaders and principals are hindering their attempts to seek external help.
PAGE’s chairman, Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, alleges that there are probably subtle attempts by “unseen hands” to reduce the number of DLP classes.
These are serious allegations. Why is the education ministry scoring an own goal?
The parents cannot understand the education ministry’s attempts to diminish the DLP, which they say is only helping to accomplish the government’s aspirations to ensure that children have access to, and be equipped to perform high-value and skilled jobs of the future.
No one is trying to undermine the importance and role of the national language, but many parents feel that for their children to progress in the 21st century, children have to be proficient in English.
If Sarawak has been given the go-ahead to introduce the DLP in their secondary schools, why are schools in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah hindered by the obstacles imposed by the education ministry?
Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg said he wanted the government to produce competitive students who could master English at the international level. He said that many graduates were jobless because of their poor command of English.
English, especially in science and mathematics, would help improve the reputation of Malaysian public universities on the world stage.
We need English to open our minds and to excel on the world stage, in science, technology, diplomacy, tourism, banking, international trade, aviation and business.
Political reluctance to make English a priority in schools may benefit extremist politicians in the short-term, but will not help the nation in the long run.
Some Malaysians claim that their colleagues who were only proficient in Malay regret not being given the chance to learn English at an earlier age.
They said that not being fluent in English had affected their careers or more appropriately, reduced the job opportunities available to them.
Many now claim that children who are lucky enough to be given the chance to learn English at a young age, when their brains are more receptive to new languages, should seize the opportunity.
The irony is that at Merdeka, our schools and universities were among the best in Asia but former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, dumbed down our education in favour of affirmative action policies.
In doing so, he successfully dismantled a century of British effort to provide quality education, and he also demolished the work of two centuries of dedicated mission school pioneers.
His attempts to please his Malay electorate has crippled at least two generations of Malaysians. Ironically, the best students, whom we rejected, became the gain of many other countries like Singapore.
Members of school boards and parent-teacher associations have urged the education ministry to reverse the directive as they claim that there would be no interest should the twin subjects of Science and Mathematics be taught in BM.
Increasing numbers of Malaysian parents, especially Malay parents, enrol their children in vernacular schools as they are appalled by the quality of education in the national schools.
The latest directive about the DLP has effectively reduced the number of DLP classes, but that is not going to deter parents.
Those who can afford it will send their children to international schools, which many Malaysians claim are mushrooming all over the place to cater to demands of parents who prioritise English lessons.
Will Fadhlina listen to the parents and children, and accommodate their wishes?
Parents want Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to intervene in the DLP debacle.
They said that Anwar’s proficiency in English has made him accessible to many world leaders, so why deny our youth a similar exposure to English? - FMT
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.