Stick with existing 'comprehensive' DLP guidelines, Page urges ministry

The Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (Page) has urged the Education Ministry to halt any plans to amend existing guidelines on the implementation of the Dual Language Programme (DLP) in schools nationwide.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Page chairperson Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim defended the use of existing guidelines, last updated in 2021, which outlined the main criteria for schools eligible to teach Mathematics and Science in English.

"I think that the existing DLP guidelines are comprehensive enough, democratic, equitable and fair to all," said Noor Azimah, who was among individuals involved in the introduction of the policy in 2016.

The criteria include that schools must be equipped to teach Mathematics and Science in English, parental consent is obtained, and it meets the minimum number of eligible students to enrol in a DLP class, she said.

Earlier this year, Page had spoken up on behalf of parents objecting to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek's reported plans to "tighten" the guidelines and enforce a ruling for all primary schools to have at least one non-DLP class that teaches Mathematics and Science in Malay, Mandarin or Tamil, depending on the school type.

"The proposal will affect schools that currently have 100 percent DLP classes," Noor Azimah (above) said.

The Education Ministry previously stated there are 1,613 primary schools nationwide that implement the DLP, but Azimah said the figure for potentially affected schools "appears to be a secret".

Additionally, there are 807 secondary schools with DLP classes.

Malaysiakini has reached out to Fadhlina's office for clarification on the actual number of schools that carry out 100 percent DLP classes.

"If schools fulfil the criteria to be 100 percent DLP schools because that suits the schools' culture, I think these schools should be allowed to continue.

"This also has to be formally announced before the start of the next school year, so parents, students and teachers can be prepared," she said.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek

Fadhlina during the last Dewan Rakyat session said the one non-DLP class per school policy will be formally introduced at the start of the new school term next year.

Noor Azimah, however, said Page was made to understand by affected parents with children currently in Standard One that some 100 percent DLP schools must have at least one non-DLP class based on a "verbal instruction from the top" which gave rise to "confusion" highlighted in recent Dewan Rakyat debates.

She also cited a New Straits Times report yesterday that the Education Ministry has permitted the full implementation of the DLP in five Kuala Lumpur schools - SK Convent Bukit Nanas (1), SK Bukit Damansara, SJKT Vivekananda, SJKT Segambut, and SJKT Ladang Edinburgh.

"These schools which have met all the criteria (for 100 percent DLP) but are still 'forced' to accommodate a non-DLP class (next year) should be allowed to appeal.

"The five schools have already set a precedent," she said.

Acknowledging concerns that there could be parents and students who are denied the option to enrol in a non-DLP class, Noor Azimah said there should be a minimum of 15 students who choose to learn Mathematics and Science in Malay, Mandarin or Tamil as explicitly stated in the current guidelines, rather than it being imposed upon all schools as a requirement to carry out other DLP classes.

The DLP programme was first introduced as a pilot project by the Education Ministry in 2016 to strengthen command of the English language under the existing policy to strengthen English and uphold Bahasa Malaysia. - Mkini