Guinea Pigs Again!

Tan Tian Yan wrote this piece in the SinChew(10 July) on the implications of the move to scrap English as the medium of instruction in the teaching of Science and Mathematics and the swtich-over to Bahasa beginning 2012.

Do read on.

This sharp turn seems to be a bit overdone!

Indeed, many people want to restore the policy of teaching science and maths in the students’ mother tongues, especially in primary schools.

Muhyiddin’s announcement was shocking enough. Not only will the medium of teaching for science and maths in primary schools be reverted to the students’ mother tongues, even secondary schools will now have to teach these subjects in Bahasa Malaysia.

The broth might be a bit tasteless, so the cook thought of bringing it back to the kitchen to add some salt.

Oh Lord! The cook poured the entire packet of salt into the broth!

The cook stared at you, saying, “I thought you complained it was tasteless? Well, if you can’t eat this, someone else will!”

But, how many people have a passion for such salty stuff? Do they represent the majority of Malaysians? How about those who prefer less salty broth?

The controversial policy of teaching science and maths in English has been implemented for six years, and now we get this kind of ending!

All I have to say is that all our input has been wasted.

From Mahathir’s unwavering stand, to Abdullah’s hesitation. And when this thing comes to Muhyiddin’s hand, we see a 180-degree turn.

As a matter of fact, there are three schools of thoughts on the teaching of science and maths in English, and these three schools of thoughts represent the three major segments in the Malaysian society.

1. Keep the policy of teaching science and maths in English. Those holding this kind of opinion are mainly English-speaking families from the major ethnic groups in the country. They are used to the English language and will naturally put English in priority.

2. Teaching science and maths in students’ mother tongues in primary schools, but English in secondary schools. Those who tend to think this way are the middle class from all ethnic groups in the country as well as families speaking their mother tongues in daily life.

They feel that the effects of teaching science and maths will be more pronounced were it done in the students’ mother tongues during the primary school level. In addition, this will also preserve the integrity of their mother tongue education. However, secondary school students should switch to English when learning these subjects in preparation for tertiary education in the future.

3. Teaching science and maths in students’ mother tongues in primary schools, and Bahasa in secondary schools. Those who advocate this school of thought are chiefly Malay educationists and nationalists whose major consideration is the status of the national language.

Muhyiddin’s decision goes perfectly well with the third school of thought, and the liking of the Malay educationists and nationalists.

These people are a dominant force in the traditional Malay society as well as avid supporters of Umno. Mahathir’s decision to implement the policy of teaching science and maths in English has incited them, and dragged them away from Umno, allowing PAS and PKR to creep in and steal their support.

The policy of teaching of science and maths is indeed an educational issue which has unfortunately evolved into a tacky political one. Umno must never allow its traditional support base to drop into the embrace of its rivals. Policy-wise, Umno must steer itself towards these people.

That said, Muhyiddin’s decision has frustrated those from the first two segments.

Meanwhile, this also means all the resources invested over the years will now have to go down the drain, with a generation of students made the guinea pigs! — mysinchew