MP: Don't limit English education to elite only

Putrajaya has been urged to introduce an English medium of instruction in selected national schools, as only elite students are currently able to receive English-medium education.

According to DAP's Kampar MP Ko Chung Sen, only about 2 percent of the Malaysian secondary school-going students are currently attending national schools with such a privilege.

This he, said, would only be the "elite" who get to attend the Mara Junior Science Colleges, where students sit for both the SPM and Cambridge's International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

"Many of those accepted (into MRSM) are from rich and powerful families. What about the 98 percent of students?

"It is unfair to deny them the same opportunities... If the ICGSE is good enough for MRSM, it must be good for the rest of the country" he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

He said that while it is ideal for a dual certification system offering SPM and ICGSE exist in all national schools, this may not be possible in the short term due to shortage of teachers and qualified students.

In view of this, he suggested that in the initial phase, the government can select several schools in capital cities to be converted into English-medium schools, while still using the SPM certification system.

This would mean that all subjects besides Bahasa Malaysia will be taught and examined in English.

"We can start with schools like Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, Penang Free School in Penang, St Micheal's Institution in Ipoh and convent schools which have a tradition of English education and have teachers and students who can cope with the transition," he said

'Introduce it gradually'

Asked why he does not moot the use of the IGSCE in these English medium national schools, instead of an English version of SPM, he said that this would be more suitable to the local context.

"IGSCE would not be suitable for subjects like geography and history, which requires local context," he said.

He also claimed that this would be easier for the students and is cheaper.

The MP was also asked if this would be an expensive venture, considering the need to change the textbooks, curriculum and train teachers, as per the flopped teaching science and mathematics in English move.

To this, Ko said that it would not cost much, as textbooks can be sourced internationally.

He added that staggered introduction could also raise success rates compared to the PPSMI which was introduced in a drastic manner.

"Even in MRSM, the IGCSE is introduced in stages, and not at all colleges," he said.

There are currently three MRSM colleges which offer the dual-certification system, with all colleges expected to offer the same by 2016.

With the IGCSE, students can enroll directly to international universities, without the need for a transitional qualification through pre-university courses or STPM.