Abdul Karim speaking to reporters in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly's media room. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: Sarawak's move to extend the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English to secondary schools starting 2026 will help students succeed on the global stage, says a state minister.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said English should not be sidelined as it is an international language.
"One problem we are facing in Malaysia is the education system and syllabus. Unfortunately, a lot of our graduates from local universities are not proficient in English.
"So I'm happy to see that Sarawak is embarking on teaching Mathematics and Science in English," he told reporters at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly's media room on Tuesday (May 14).
On Monday (May 13), state Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah said secondary schools in Sarawak would start teaching Mathematics and Science in English in 2026, when the first cohort of students learning both subjects in English enter Form One.
This comes after the Education Ministry agreed for Sarawak secondary schools to use English as the medium of instruction for Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Additional Mathematics.
Sarawak's dual language programme (DLP) for Science and Mathematics to be taught in English began in 2020 with Year One pupils.
Abdul Karim also said it was important to ensure that teachers were well equipped to teach Mathematics and Science in English.
"Those graduating from teachers' colleges might have to be trained to be proficient in English for the subjects they are going to teach," he said.
