Several groups have launched a joint petition to retain the existing guidelines on the implementation of the Dual Language Programme (DLP) in schools nationwide.
The petition called for the Education Ministry to withdraw its directive for all schools to mandatorily commence at least one non-DLP class for the teaching of Mathematics and Science.
The petition was initiated by MCA Youth, Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (Page), Parent-Teacher Association of SJKT Vivekananda, British Graduate Association Malaysia and Penang and Seberang Perai Dong Lian Hui (Persatuan Gabungan Lembaga Pengurus Sekolah Cina Pulau Pinang dan Seberang Perai).
At a press conference today, MCA Youth secretary-general Saw Yee Fung said compelling the opening of one non-DLP class would result in the victimisation of students.
“Where a child has been exposed to DLP throughout primary school, the child should not be made to switch to Bahasa Malaysia at secondary school. This should include Mathematics and Science and for those opting for the Arts stream at Form 4.
“The selection criteria to be placed in a BM class have not been made clear. What criteria will the school deploy to select which students will switch to learning Mathematics and Science in BM?
“Parents have reported that they were given a ‘take it or leave it’ scenario, that is, if they insist that their child continues the DLP in English, they have no option but to transfer their child out of the school,” she added.
The current DLP guidelines for implementation are that schools are equipped with sufficient teaching resources, preparation is made by the principal and teachers, parental consent is obtained, and the school’s performance in the Malay language meets the national average standard.
The Education Ministry previously stated that 1,613 primary schools are implementing the DLP, however, the figure for potentially affected schools is unknown.
Centre for Vernacular Schools Excellence director Arun Dorasamy said that the non-DLP directive only affected schools in Peninsular Malaysia and not the 1,085 schools implementing DLP in Sabah and Sarawak.
Confusion
Previously, Page chairperson Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim told Malaysiakini that some schools with full DLP must have at least one non-DLP class based on "verbal instruction from the top" which gave rise to "confusion" highlighted in recent Dewan Rakyat debates.
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 BM.
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. - Mkini
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