[lg policy] Malaysia: Do not fail English as well

Tue Feb 16 14:14:55 UTC 2016

 Do not fail English as well

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.

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.

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.

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.

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+).

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Minister and the Economic Council, was withdrawn by the Education Ministry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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Parents who are level-headed and thinking adults will not want their
children to add to the 400,000 unemployed graduates. Or do you?

http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2016/02/16/do-not-fail-english-as-well/

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