S’wak not changing English policy

SIBU: English is here to stay as far as teaching of Mathematics and Science in school is concerned, says a Sarawak deputy minister.

Sarawak’s Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee (pic) said there will be no turning back as Sarawak will not discard using English to teach Science and Mathematics in schools in the state.

“The Sarawak government will never revert to using Bahasa Malaysia to teach the two subjects. Last time, we taught Mathematics and Science in English, but changed it again to Bahasa Malaysia.

“Sarawak was given opportunities four years ago to get back to its original policy. I can guarantee we will never turn it back again; by hook or by crook we will proceed with teaching the subjects in English,” he added.

Speaking to reporters after officiating at the Postponement of Sarawak Zone KV Skills Competition at Sibu Vocational College yesterday, he stated that regardless of any new policy made by the Federal Government, Sarawak will not follow suit but will continue to teach the two subjects in English.

He said this in response to a call by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the government to reinstate the use of English as the teaching language for Science and Mathematics in schools.

He said Sarawak has been using English since the implementation of its Dual Language Programme (DLP) in 2019.

It has also spent RM18mil on facilities for the teaching of Science and Mathematics in schools, he added.

“We are now in Primary Four pupils and we will go all the way till the students reach Form Five,” he said.

Separately he urged the Education Ministry to review History as a mandatory pass subject in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.

Annuar said diploma holders from vocational colleges who are taking a bachelor’s degree at University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) need to fulfil the requirement to graduate.

“They could not graduate from university because they did not pass History paper. I think this is absurd,” he said.

He stressed that the university students with a vocational background could learn and sit for the History paper when doing their degree, but History should not be a mandatory subject.

“They should have made English a mandatory pass subject.

“We appreciate what we have attained after the formation of Malaysia but making it (History) a compulsory subject to pass to get a full certificate is a bit too harsh.

“I think they (the Education Ministry) need to be flexible here,” he added.