State minister to meet experts on strategies as teachers brace for challenges
KOTA KINABALU: Like Sarawak, Sabah is also stepping up the use of English as a medium of instruction in schools, with its government set to engage experts to improve proficiency of the language among students in the state.
Describing the initiative as a primary focus for the year, state Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif said he will meet with education directors from higher learning institutions and experts to gather input.
“It is important to enhance English proficiency in the state. I will soon meet with the education directors from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), and teacher training colleges, as well as several experts, to seek their opinions on strategies to strengthen students’ mastery of the English language,” he told the media at an education sector engagement for Membakut at Dewan Seri Wawasan, Pimping, on Tuesday.
Mohd Arifin, who is also the state minister in charge of education, added that Sabah will focus on improving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as well as technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
He revealed that Sabah’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre is in the pipeline, with discussions already underway with lecturers and experts from UMS.
“This centre requires expertise, and we aim to position Sabah as an AI hub. Hopefully, this AI Centre will benefit universities, higher education institutions and schools.
“We need AI expertise among the public and students. I am confident that Sabah’s skills and capabilities in AI will contribute to future employment opportunities,” he said.
Last May, Sarawak said the use of English as a medium of instruction will be extended to its secondary schools – one of several key points agreed to by the federal Education Ministry on the devolution of power in education to Sarawak.
English is currently used to teach Science and Mathematics in primary schools under Sarawak’s dual language programme (DLP). For secondary schools, Additional Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry will also be taught in English.
Teachers in Sabah said teaching in English has always been challenging but despite these obstacles, many refuse to give up and are instead adopting creative methods to inspire their students to embrace the world’s most widely used language.
May O. Mail, an English-language teacher at SK Selupoh in Tuaran, is among those who are blending modern trends with teaching to connect with her pupils.
“Now, they are more willing to converse in English,” said the 44-year-old teacher with over a decade of experience.
Her school, located some 36km from the state capital, is considered rural.
Teaching in English has been extremely challenging, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, as students do not seem to see the importance of learning the language.
“Moreover, the lack of encouragement and motivation, coupled with their fixation on gadgets, is killing their interest in the language,” Mail said.
However, she remains optimistic, believing that motivation is the key to reigniting their interest.
“I always encourage my pupils to speak, even if it is just basic sentences. Speaking comes easier, but reading and writing are trickier. With consistent motivation, I believe they can develop these skills,” she added.
Former primary school teacher Litty J. Anthony, 73, recalled similar challenges during her teaching days.
“Back then, everything was done manually, from typing, drawing, cutting and pasting questions onto paper to photocopying them for students.
“It was much harder compared with now, when technology is at teachers’ fingertips,” said Anthony, who taught for 38 years before retiring in 2010.
Nowadays, students are privileged. Apart from school lessons, they can use the Internet to learn English, she said.
