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Do not fail English as well
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</div><p>SINCE 2008,
the Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) has been seeking the
non-abolition of the mandatory policy of teaching and learning of
Science and Mathematics in English but we were thwarted at every turn.
We persevered and the policy was resurrected in the form of the Soft
Landing in 2011, which will end in 2020, allowing students who started
in English to finish in English. </p>
<p>In the meantime, this scientific English policy was replaced by a
language policy in 2011 called “Memartabatkan Bahasa Melayu,
Memperkasakan Bahasa Inggeris or MBMMBI (Uphold Bahasa Melayu,
Strengthen the English Language), which continues to be expanded and
developed. </p>
<p>In 2015, the Prime Minister with the Economic Council sought a
radical approach towards rectifying the appalling state of the English
language that has resulted in over 400,000 graduates to date to be
unemployed. The Education and Strategic Reform Initiatives (SRI) Human
Capital Development of Pemandu (Performance Management and Delivery
Unit), comprising highly analytical, dynamic and outstanding
professionals in their respective fields carefully hand-picked from the
private sector, was tasked to explore and recommend this radical
solution. </p>
<p>Numerous stakeholders, including the Federation of Manufacturers
Malaysia (FMM), Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF), British Council,
advocates of English, think-tanks and scholarship foundations, tertiary
education professors and, most importantly, high-ranking officials from
the Education Ministry were invited to brainstorm and articulate an
effective approach. </p><div style="float:left;width:100%" class="">
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<p>A lengthy and detailed process was undertaken which culminated in
three main recommendations as an expansion of MBMMBI programmes in
enhancing English as advocated in Wave 2 (2016-2020) of the Malaysia
Education Blueprint 2013-2025 (MEB). These were the High Immersion
Programme (HIP) for all schools, Dual Language Programme (DLP) as a
pilot project involving 300 schools (or a mere 3%), and Dual Language
Programme Plus (DLP+). </p>
<p>The DLP+ which would have been the closest we would ever get to the
return of English medium schools, excluding the subjects of Pendidikan
Islam/Moral and History, although endorsed by the Prime Minister, the
Education Minister and the Economic Council, was withdrawn by the
Education Ministry from lack of resources. </p>
<p>The philosophy behind DLP is it is a parents’ option (as stated by
the Education Act 1996 where “pupils are to be educated according to the
wishes of their parents”) and not teachers nor critics to choose the
medium of instruction; students cannot achieve operational proficiency
through the 15% to 20% English hours offered in classrooms (as indicated
by international research) and therefore other subjects had to be
explored; and the majority of Science and Mathematics teachers had a
minor in English unlike those of other possible non-core subjects. </p>
<p>Parents would fill in a standard form providing consent for their
children to be taught in Bahasa Melayu or English for the four STEM
subjects. This was done at the start of the year for Primary One and
Primary Four, and Form One. A class would be provided where there is a
minimum of 15 students in either language. There is no plan to have all
the approximately 10,000 schools nationwide offer DLP next year or at
any point in time as long as parents do not consent. </p>
<p>DLP is designed for students to immerse themselves in an environment
where English can be applied and practised beyond the English classroom.
Students who are already proficient can assist the teacher and mentor
those who are not. Parents too have a role to play alongside the
teachers, providing support, encouragement and a positive attitude.
There is no magic formula. Children and grandchildren of teachers, past,
present and future will benefit tremendously too. </p>
<p>Giving up from the start without even trying would be a great
injustice to the innocent children who have infinite potential if they
were guided by visionary adults. Critics, especially politicians who
reject the DLP, are selfish hypocrites who want only their own children
to excel by quietly enrolling them in international schools where they
get to enjoy an English education. </p>
<p>Parents who are level-headed and thinking adults will not want their
children to add to the 400,000 unemployed graduates. Or do you?</p><p><a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2016/02/16/do-not-fail-english-as-well/">http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2016/02/16/do-not-fail-english-as-well/</a><br></p><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
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