Monday 9 March 2009

No One Masterminding Movement Against Use Of English

The movement against the use of English in the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Science (GMP) Monday denied it was being masterminded by certain groups including the opposition parties, Bernama reports.

GMP chairman Datuk Dr Hassan Ahmad said based on what transpired at the gathering on Saturday to protest against the use of English in the teaching of the two subjects was outside the power of the GMP, and "the GMP considered their presence as an expression of their support."

"No mastermind behind the incident. We are not a shadow play that is being directed by someone...those who came (to the gathering) as supporters, I don't want to say they are puppets, it's like an insult (to me)," he said at a press conference at 'Rumah Pena', in Kuala Lumpur.

Hassan said this when commenting on the statement by Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein yesterday that the gathering on Saturday was masterminded by the opposition based on the presence of several of their leaders at the street demonstration.

The gathering organised by the GMP, which was originally aimed at handing over a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was also joined by several opposition party leaders including PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, besides a small group of demonstrators who were seen carrying several opposition party logos.

Hassan said the GMP was not a movement that was politically inclined but upheld the basic principle of reverting to the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Science in Bahasa Malaysia. Bernama full report here...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think Dato Hassan has got a point
when he said:“How can you teach Maths and Science in English to pupils who don’t even understand English when they first come to school, whether Chinese or Indians or Malays?”

The teaching of English should be improved, so students could master the language.

I agree with him that we should improve the techniques of teaching English, expose children to good literature and get experts to devise a method that works.

Anonymous said...

Saya bukan anti Bahasa Inggeris. Lebih banyak bahasa kita dapat menguasai lebih baik. Itulah pandangan saya.

Saya kesiankan anak-anak desa - di perkampungan yang gagal menguasai Bahasa Inggeris dan mempunyai masaalah bertutur dan menulis dalam bahasa tersebut. Ini disebakan beberapa faktor. Antaranya, Bahasa Inggeris bukan bahasa ibunda mereka. Dan Bahasa Melayu adalah medium of instruction di semua Sekolah Kebangsaan, sedangkan bahasa Inggeris diajar sebagai satu mata pelajaran (as a subject.

So mana ada level playing field? These kids start off with a distadvantage.

Pada pendapat saya sebelum melaksakan polisi ini, Keerajaan, terutama sekali Kementerian Pelajaran perlu menyediakani guru-guru yang fasih atau proficient dalam bahasa Inggerris untuk mengajar kedua mata pelajaran ini – Sains dan matematiks.

Guru-guru sekarang yang mengajar kedua mata pelajaran ini adalah product dari the National Education system which uses Malay as the medium of instruction.

That is the problem. Until & unless the Ministry allocates enough resources to train teachers in English to teach Maths & Science, I think the ones who are going to lose out are the pupils in the rural areas.

Anonymous said...

I think a lot of people are confused between policy and implementation.

Policy: Do we want our children to used English as lingua franca for teaching in Science and Maths?

Answer : Yes? No?

Implementation: If English is the medium of choice, what does it takes to ensure such effective execution to ALL?
teachers?
books?
Then address the shortcommings in the execution to meet the objectives - the policy.

You do not have the time to debate policies every few years. Time does not wait for the wimp.

Life is unfair. Get used to it. I am still working my ass off for a piece of Porsche 911. And, there is no level playing field anywhere - did not find it in Timbuktu, did not find it in Uk, and did not find it in USofA, and certainly did not find the level playing field in Egypt or holy land of Saudi Arabia.


MRSM Kalae Chepo 66/73

Alliedmartster said...

Simply put, these 'Movement against the use of English in Science and Maths' want to flex their muscle.

Can I ask why is the group predominantly Malay in nature?
I must have been blind, because I hardly noticed any 'dan lain lain' in the group of protesters.

Honestly, I find it hard to imagine why in the world would some people object to teaching in English? How many words in the Malay language these days have been bastardised(if there is such a word) from the English language? I tune in to bernama radio almost everytime I am in the car to brush up on my Malay, and today, I heard words like 'Impak'(impact) Demonstrasi (demonstration, in the context of showing, and not rioting!!

Does it kill our language, if we improve both our English and Malay? I certainly do not think so, and as usual, the politicians are playing to the crowd, now saying that the policy of PPSMI is under review. If they revert back to Malay, I will HOMESCHOOL my kids! And if it does happen, I am happy to take in other kids too!!! (provided that their parents help out in the homeschool!!!)

p.s Bagi 'appointment' hari selasa depan, saya akan 'arrange'kan ikan dan sotong bakar dari 'behind the palace'......
he he.......

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

Tony (Alliedmartster),

Sotong and Ikan bakar next Tuesday?

Yaay. Thanks, bro!

Will be looking forward to that.