[Lgpolicy-list] [lg policy] Malaysia: Initiatives for students to learn third language already in place

[Harold Schiffman]

Published: Monday December 1, 2014 MYT 12:31:00 PM
Updated: Monday December 1, 2014 MYT 3:04:57 PM
 Idris Jusoh: Initiatives for students to learn third language already in
place

by ann-marie khor <http://www.thestar.com.my/Authors?q=Ann+Marie+Khor>



  [image: From left: Education Ministry deputy secretary general Datuk
Nasir Mat Dam, Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and Open
University Malaysia president Tan Sri Anuwar Ali during National Lifelong
Learning Seminar launch.]

>From left: Education Ministry deputy secretary general Datuk Nasir Mat Dam,
Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and Open University
Malaysia president Tan Sri Anuwar Ali during National Lifelong Learning
Seminar launch.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry has already been encouraging students
to take up a language other than Bahasa Malaysia and English, said Second
Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

"It is not unusual to learn a third language, or even more. We have already
put forth initiatives to encourage students to pick up Mandarin, Tamil or
Japanese. So, it is nothing new," said Idris when asked about Education
Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's call for students, especially from the
Malay community, to master a third language.

At the Umno general assembly, Muhyiddin had said that the third language
policy was already included in the schooling system, but added that too few
took up the option.

However, Idris said this was because Malaysians were not accustomed to
taking up a new language, which was why it was considered "odd".

"In Western countries, learning a new language is so natural, even if it is
not native to them. Here, it is not part of the 'culture', which is why
most people find it difficult to pick up a different language," he said
after the launch of the National Lifelong Learning Seminar at Dewan Tun
Hussein Onn, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here Monday.

On another issue, Idris said the ministry was also aware of the
availability of drugs such as marijuana at local higher learning
institutions, as published in *The Sta*r on Nov 11.

"We are aware of how serious this issue is and will be looking into ways of
overcoming the misuse of drugs among students at colleges and
universities," he said.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/12/01/Education-third-language-initiative-already-in-place/




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