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I am totally shocked when I heard that the Government will revert the decision to teach both these subjects in Malay. I was the pioneer batch who started learning these 2 subjects in English back in Form 1, Year 2003. Eventhough I knew being the pioneer batch is akin to being a test rat, and that the teachers might not cope well in teaching us, I looked forward to it because I know it's very beneficial to us.
Then, the Internet came to my house, I got access to a slow dialup Internet, slow but I can already use it to search for things that I do not understand. Eventually I moved up to Form 4 and broadband came, I could search for things that I was interested in, and could instantly understand that articles.
Then, Year 2009 came and the Government announced the decision to revert the PPSMI, it's like moving backwards. Can you imagine, that I have a younger brother who have been learning these 2 subjects in English and would have to learn everything in Malay when he goes to Form 1? This is absurd.
Education policies are no politicial tools, I am pissed at the opposition already for having pushed for the abolishment of PPSMI.
Here, I would like to give 2 suggestions.
1) If it is true that students could learn the 2 languages in their mother's tongue better (Malay, Chinese, Tamil), may I suggest that this 2 subjects be taught in their mother's tongue in primary level (since it is claimed that they could learn easier in their mother's tongue, this will build a solid foundation) but let the teaching of these 2 subjects be done in English in Secondary level. The progression of the teaching of these 2 subjects have to be done somewhere, it cannot happen in the Pre-U level when the students should be focused on their studies instead of translations. Hence, a win-win situation would be to begin the transition in Form 1. I went through that path, learning Science & Maths in Malay in primary level and then in English beginning in secondary level. I believe this suggestion this is the most practical one, it's true that some young children might not understand Science & Mathematics at young age, what else to learn them in English which some might not understand as well. Hence, the teaching of these 2 subjects in their mother's tongue might build their foundation, but meanwhile, their English must be enforced to prepare them for a transition to the teaching of these 2 subjects in English at secondary level.
2) Let school choose which language they want to teach the subjects in. It is undeniable that students in urban area are 100% against the decision to teach these 2 subjects in English reverted. So let school in urban areas teach these 2 subjects in English while those at rural areas can continue teaching it at their mothers tongue. Surely this is the best solution as no one loses out. After all, school can choose which literature novels they want to teach in their school English lessons (Form 3-5)
Politicians, this is for the future of our country, it is not too late to reverse the decision. The voters are smart, do the Government seriously think that PPSMI will lose them alot of votes?
If the Government claim that they have insufficient teachers who are competent to teach the 2 subjects in English, they must remember, PPSMI has just been implemented not too long ago. If this is allowed to continued for few more years, eventually people who have learned these 2 subjects in English will enter the job market as a teacher perhaps, and when the whole cycle continues, eventually the problem will be solved.
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