Striking a balance

ALTHOUGH the Cabinet’s decision to reverse the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English has sparked mixed responses, Chinese and Tamil academicians have offered their unanimous support.

The return to the old policy was lauded by the Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia), Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers Association of Malaysia) and the National Tamil Teachers’ Union, among others.

According to Dong Zong president Dr Yap Sin Tian, the policy on the Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (PPSMI), has adversely affected students for the past six years.

And while he welcomed the move to use Bahasa Malaysia and one’s mother tongue in the teaching of Mathematics and Science at national schools and vernacular schools, respectively, Dr Yap could not wait until 2012 for the full effect of the new ruling.

“We hope that the Government will switch the medium of instruction back to Chinese immediately so that students can pick up in their studies again,” he said.

This was no surprise as PPSMI never went down well with the Chinese academicians.

Jiao Zong chairman Ong Chiow Chuen explained that the go-alone decision by Chinese schools to teach bilingually six years ago meant that they were more than ready for change.

“We have textbooks in both English and Chinese for both subjects and we do not have to wait until 2012 to completely reverse the medium of instruction,” he said.

“Chinese schools are ready to teach Mathematics and Science in Chinese as soon as next year.”

Unlike the Chinese academicians, Tamil schools initially warmed to PPSMI and the return to tried and tested methods marks the end of six years of voluntary experimentation.

“The majority of Tamil school headmasters supported PPSMI in 2002 because many scientific terms and reports are in English,” said MIC education bureau chairman Datuk Dr T. Marimuthu.

“However, the last six years showed that students have difficulties learning concepts in English. They were not ready for PPSMI and this could be due to the lack of quality English lessons in school.

“We found out the hard way.”

When PPSMI took effect in 2003, Tamil schools decided to adopt English as the sole language of instruction for Mathematics and Science, unlike Chinese vernacular schools which continued operating bilingually.

Despite the apparent commitment to the old policy, Tamil Headmasters’ Association general-secretary Muthiah Sithambaram assured that the new ruling would not bring things to a standstill.

“We still kept stock of Mathematics and Science textbooks in Tamil when we complied with the ruling in 2003 and switching should not be a problem,” he said.

The growing disparity in English proficiency cited by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when he announced the move to return to the pre-2003 policy was also discussed.

“The new ruling is welcome as we were worried that the gap in English mastery between students in urban Tamil schools and their rural counterparts would continue to increase if PPSMI continued,” said Muthiah.

“You can’t expect too much in rural schools as the students lack the avenues to practise English daily, unlike students in the city. Some Tamil students in rural schools begin Year One without knowing a single word of English and PPSMI confused them.”

His views were shared by Ong who said that it was hard enough for students to learn in their own mother tongue and the use of English to teach the two subjects would complicate matters further.

Like the policy reversal, both parties welcomed the Cabinet’s decision to beef up the quality of English in schools.

Proposed measures included the allocation of the best English teachers for students at a formative age, extra hours of English every week and the hiring of 13,933 qualified English teachers which may include retirees and foreigners.

However, one could not help but take note of identity undertones in Dr Yap’s praise.

“We welcome the decision to increase the number of hours for teaching English but we hope that more time can be allocated for Chinese classes too,” he said.

“The Government should consult Chinese educators to see how we can plan a better timetable for our students.”