[lg policy] Malaysia: Deputy Prime Minister: Respect decision on language policy in education

[Harold Schiffman]

Updated: Saturday October 29, 2011 MYT 5:39:01 PM

DPM: Respect decision on language policy in education

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wants everyone to respect the
government's decision on the policy of Empowering Bahasa Melayu and
Strengthening the English Language.

He said the decision to abolish the teaching of Science and
Mathematics in English should also be accepted by all parties.

He said the country's education system would be in chaos should the
government allow parents the freedom of choice as to which medium they
wanted.

"It will be difficult for the Education Ministry to cater to the
schools and there's also the question of providing teachers.

"We know that some of our English teachers are not up to the mark, so
if a school chooses English but doesn't have good teachers it won't
work," the deputy prime minister said at the 8th Malay Literary and
Language Congress here.

Muhyiddin, who is Education Minister, addressed fears by certain
quarters that the policy meant less attention would be given to
English. He gave the assurance that the language will not be
marginalised.

The Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia or PAGE had earlier
appealed to the government to maintain the teaching of Science and
Mathematics in English or allow parents a choice in the matter.

"We have introduced a few initiatives, such as improving the English
syllabus in schools, to make it more attractive and effective and have
increased weekly lessons from 240 to 300 minutes," he said.

"We have brought in native speaker teachers and placed them throughout
the country as master teachers. It appears to be an effective way to
monitor our English teachers," he added.

"We are also in the midst of training 10,000 English teachers at the
Malaysian Teachers Training Institute," he said.

http://inagist.com/staronline/130227455591067648/

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