[lg policy] Malaysia: Voluntary English programme will be forced on every school, say critics

[Harold Schiffman]

Voluntary English programme will be forced on every school, say critics

*BY SHERIDAN MAHAVERA*

Published: 8 February 2016 6:59 AM

[image: Critics say schools are being pressured into implementing
Putrajaya's dual language programme despite the government's earlier
assurances that participation was voluntary. – The Malaysian Insider file
pic, February 8, 2016.]Critics say schools are being pressured into
implementing Putrajaya's dual language programme despite the government's
earlier assurances that participation was voluntary. – The Malaysian
Insider file pic, February 8, 2016.Putrajaya's latest English programme,
the dual language programme or DLP, will eventually be forced on every
school, its critics said, adding that the government was repeating the
failed policy to teach Science and Mathematics in English.

This has spurred opponents of DLP to launch a campaign on February 15,
aimed at pressuring the government into abolishing it, said Hasni Abas, a
spokesman for anti-DLP coalition MansuhDLP.

"The government claimed it was optional but our sources said national
schools are being coerced into implementing it. Next year, the programme
will be expanded to 10,000 schools nationwide.

"So it's not optional anymore, it's mandatory," said Hasni.

MansuhDLP is spearheaded by Gerakan Mansuh PPSMI (GMP), a group created in
2009 to stop the former policy to teach Science and Maths in English, known
by its Bahasa Malaysia acronym PPSMI.

Hasni said a 2009 study on the effects of PPSMI showed that only 3% of 3.5
million pupils nationwide increased their English proficiency. These kids
were also from English-speaking families.

Schools using DLP will teach four subjects in English – Science, Maths,
Information Technology and Creative Design – in Primary One and Primary
Four classes this year.

DLP is currently run in about 300 schools nationwide.

Putrajaya had said participation was voluntary, which its supporters said
was a critical part of its success and support
<http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/why-new-english-policy-can-succeed-when-others-have-failed>
from parents and teachers.

But Hasni said the number of participating schools was only 170.

The remaining 130 who had signed up but not implemented it were being
pressured by the Education Ministry.

"This is no longer a programme but a policy. It’s not a dual-language
programme but a dual-language policy. It's PPSMI through the back door.

"We will repeat the failures of PPSMI," Hasni said.

"DLP is also only being implemented in national schools. Chinese and Tamil
national-type schools are exempt. Why is the government discriminating
against national schools?"

PPSMI was started in 2003 but abolished after six years due to protest from
parents, teachers, politicians and proponents of mother-tongue education.

Besides the results of the 2009 study, Hasni said Malaysian pupils had
performed badly in Science and Maths subjects in the 2012 Programme for
International Student Assessment (PISA) exams. The exams measure the
performance of pupils among 65 participating countries.

Other primary drivers in the MansuhDLP coalition are the Malaysian Muslim
Youth Movement (Abim) and Malaysian Muslim Students Association (PKPIM).

The February 15 campaign launch in front of the Sogo shopping complex in
Kuala Lumpur will feature a flash mob as well as speeches by national
laureates, said Abim education exco Mohd Firdaus Md Hashim.
- See more at:
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/voluntary-english-programme-will-be-forced-on-every-school-say-critics#sthash.rAxqnjLS.dpuf


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