Teaching of Science, Mathematics in English. Five years on – and still not up to mark
Posted by omong on November 2, 2007
…if you took a look at the newspapers recently, the big news is that students would continue to have a choice of answering Science and Mathematics UPSR examination papers in either English, Bahasa Malaysia or the vernacular language of their school.
The original plan was to have English-only exam papers for Science and Mathematics from next year, after the policy of teaching the two subjects in English was introduced in 2003. The policy was implemented in phases, starting with Year One, Form One and Lower Six students.
But a few days ago, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein cautioned that there would be big problems if we went ahead with the plan.
He said such a move would have a “major impact on pupils in primary schools and rural schools, and increase the gap between those in rural and urban areas.”
That is unfortunate. By the end of the school semester this year, the “pioneer” group of students would have had five years of learning Science and Mathematics in English.
Five years might seem like enough time, especially for children who are at the age when they are able to absorb things quickly, but the Education Minister’s concerns over the students’ ability sit for the papers in English suggest that the general grasp of the language remains average at best.
Add the fact that these students have also gone through an equal number of years of instruction in English as a subject, and you begin to wonder if they have learned much of the language at all.
Hishammuddin said that much depended on the ability of schoolteachers, and that while many had been trained, there was room for further improvement.
That sounds like an understatement.
If we look at it closely, this is less about the ability of our children to learn Science and Mathematics, in English or in any other language, than their ability to learn English.
Think about it: For the past five years, the students, for all intents and purposes, have actually sat through three times as many English lessons (English as a subject, and being taught and learning Science and Mathematics in English) as those who came before them, but many are still not up to speed.
Blame the teachers all you want, but I think their ability to teach English and teach in English is only part of the problem.
In fact, if the only way for things to get better is for teachers to get better at these things, then it would be quite a while indeed before we would have the confidence to have our children sit for the Science and Mathematics UPSR papers in English.
source: The Star
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[...] Teaching of Science, Mathematics in English. Five years on – and still not up to mark [...]
kamaruddin90 said
don’t be too pesimis in doing statement. Why we’re not apply totally english in exam. The answer is, government realize the temporary’s scenario which is the ability of students in rural area. I advice u to be not involve in politics because you just like jumps into conclusion. Learn about thinking skill by edward de bono, i wish u to be optimistic person. Critic for better condition don’t just banned. If u think that u’re disagree with whatever government did, give your ideas, let your viewers judge!!!!