PAGE: Have English-medium schools in peninsula after Sabah

NGO chairman Noor Azimah Rahim wants the programme introduced in secondary schools to produce quality English teachers.

PAGE recommends implementing the programme in existing national schools instead of opening new schools.

PETALING JAYA: The Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) wants English-medium schools to be implemented in the peninsula within a year if the pilot project in Sabah is a success.

The group’s chairman Noor Azimah Rahim added that the programme should be implemented in existing national schools instead of opening new schools as this would incur additional costs.

The introduction of English-medium schools under a pilot project was part of the Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto launched on Saturday.

At present, Sabah, Sarawak and Johor have welcomed the move to have such schools in their states.

Noting that Malaysia had English-medium schools even before 1969, Azimah said these schools should be introduced at the secondary level to produce quality English language teachers.

“As a sweetener, these students should be offered the chance to pursue English language degrees in the UK,” she told FMT.

“They should stay in the university halls of residence in their first year. After that, they can live with foster native English-speaking families for a complete immersion in the language.”

She said these students could then return to Malaysia to complete their training to become teachers.

“We know for a fact that Malay-medium schools do not produce the best English language teachers.”

DAP: Why not run the project in peninsula, too?

DAP’s Klang MP Charles Santiago, however, said the BN manifesto contradicted the existing education policy.

“The government’s lingua franca in national schools is Malay.

“The fight for English-medium schools is in the peninsula, with parents wanting subjects to be taught in English.

“But interestingly, this manifesto states the pilot project is for Sabah.”

Santiago said it was clear that BN was pandering to the wishes of Sabahans to get the support of middle-income parents for the coalition.

“English schools will attract the middle-class. They have the money and have plans to send their children overseas.”

Santiago said the ministry should teach Sabahans in indigenous languages to reduce the number of dropouts in the state.

He said according to a study carried out by Unesco, mother tongues are an important part of effective learning. - FMT