The Cabinet decision last Wednesday on PPSMI (Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik – teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English) is as disastrous as the Cabinet decision in 2002 to rush headlong into implementing PPSMI from Std. One for all national, Chinese and Tamil primary schools without any preparation or research whatsoever.
Now, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in justifying the Cabinet’s latest decision on PPSMI has made the shocking revelation that before the PPSMI was launched six years ago, there had been neither discussion or approval by the Cabinet nor discussion with the parents.
Several current Ministers were in the 2002 Mahathir Cabinet, including the present Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, DPM Muhyiddin himself, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Information, Communication and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, and they as well as the leaderships of Umno, MCA, Gerakan, MIC, SUPP and other Barisan Nasional component parties should all explain how they could permit such a far-reaching decision affecting the future generation of Malaysians to be taken in so haphazard and irresponsible a manner!
I agree that the Cabinet decision on PPSMI last Wednesday came as “a bombshell to many, especially those in the urban areas”.
Just before Najib’s Cabinet reshuffle on April 10, the then Education Minister Hishamuddin was expected to have proposed the reversion to mother tongue for mathematics and science only at primary level, while retaining PPSMI at the secondary level.
As many had said, the complete reversal of PPSMI at both primary and secondary levels “has come as a real surprise”, as it is sheer political expediency which makes no educational sense whatsoever.
For instance, last Wednesday’s Cabinet decision means that Malaysia will have the most crazy educational system, where students in Form 4 in 2012 will have to switch to Bahasa Malaysia for mathematics and science in the last two years of secondary education, after nine years of learning these two subjects in English – again to switch back to English for pre-university and tertiary education!
Ministers who want millions of Malaysian students to go through the crazy system of nine years of mathematics and science in English from Std. 1 to Form 3, followed by two years in Bahasa Malaysia in Forms 4 and 5, and switch back again to English for pre-university and tertiary education must have their heads examined as to whether they are fit to be in Cabinet in the first place!
This is why MCA and Gerakan Ministers like Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon are trying to wriggle out of the crazy decision, by agreeing in the Chinese media that mathematics and science should continue to be taught in English in Forms 3 and 5 after 2012.
Unfortunately, this was not the decision taken by the Cabinet, of which both of them are part!
Why then did Ong and Koh agree to the Cabinet decision last Wednesday that mathematics and science should revert back to Bahasa Malaysia from English for Forms 4 and 5 from 2012, as clearly explained by the Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom in post-Cabinet meetings and interviews?
When can Malaysian trust MCA, Gerakan, MIC, SUPP as well as Umno Ministers not to make foolish and crazy decisions sacrificing the interests of future generations of Malaysians?
The Cabinet on Wednesday should undo the various disasters of its decision on PPSMI last week, including:
- Endorsing the call of Parents Action Group for Education (Page) that schools should be given the option to teach science and mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia or English or in one’s mother tongue;
- Revert to the use of English as medium of instruction for mathematics and science in secondary schools;
- A flexible education approach that takes into account the urban-rural gap as well as the weaknesses of students, particularly in rural areas in proficiency in English, mathematics and science; and
- The important principle that advanced students should not be held back because of students who lagged behind academically.
#1 by taiking on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 1:46 pm
Money politics do not work and cannot work. Najib obviously wants to pls people. He obviously forgot that his job is to serve and not to pls and that the moment he could no longer serve properly he ought to resign. This legacy from kutty’s son will of course trouble umno to no end. Like the economic problems and the nep issues, this issue will plague umno like the black death incident of 700 yrs ago. Is this the work of the grieving and mourning Mother Gobi?
#2 by boh-liao on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 1:47 pm
KTK is an educationist and he should know best. He is also a scientist and likes to experiment – including the future of our kids.
The 11 angpows given by NR show that he did not listen properly to the rakyat.
He should visit LKS’s blog n read the comments here before he crafts his next angpows to the rakyat.
#3 by tsn on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 1:49 pm
For fools, nothing seems can be right. Hoping for the best, expecting the worst
#4 by k1980 on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 2:03 pm
Schools should be given the option to teach science and mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia or English or in one’s mother tongue?
Then urban parents will rush to put their kids in non-BM medium schools, while the rural folks will do the same in BM medium schools. The end result is that when they enter F6 or university, those from BM medium streams will commit suicide in droves because they couldn’t make head or tail from the courses taught in English. They who didn’t commit suicide will find themselves unemployable because no reputable company is going to take in jokers who can’t “cakap white man”.
#5 by LG on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 2:14 pm
Hi LKS,
Our BN/UMNO Government is a flip-flop government. During my schools days both primary and secondary, these subjects were taught in English. Then the Government revised them to be taught in BM. A number of years later it was reverted back to English. Now the Government want to revert them back again to BM in 2002.
Flip-flop-flip .. flop. BN/UMNO is playing a silly stupid game with our children’s future. I won’t be surprised that down 10 years times if BN/UMNO is still the Government, they will be reverted back again to English.
I personally felt that our present DPM who is our Education Minister has no foresight and has a very low IQ with poor leadership quality.
#6 by frankyapp on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 2:30 pm
The Umno/Bn government must listen and listen carefully regarding the cabinet decision on PPSMI switch from English to BM in the teaching of science & mathematics wef 2012. Presently the opposition PR politicians are against it.Most major academic institutions and experts are against it,the majority of the people on the streets are against it,the whole country is against it,It’s time now for UMNO/BN politicians to do away their ego and revert the teaching of S&M to English.If UMNO/BN leaders refused to backdown,the rakyat only choice I can think of is people’s power.Launch a nation wide huge peacefull demonstration to show to the Umno/Bn politicians we mean business.What else guys you think is better to make these idiots listen. I think street demonstration is the best solution to our predicament.
#7 by Rocky on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 3:07 pm
flip flop. they do not care of the kids and for their kids, they send overseas lo.
#8 by Bigjoe on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 3:09 pm
This is highly unpopular. Its like taking candy from a baby for Sdr.Lim with this issue..
#9 by HJ Angus on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 3:39 pm
Methinks the teachers are doing to the PPSMI what the PDRM did to the IPCMC – they forced the government to back down – just a wild guess.
Meanwhile those who are considering Singapore schools as an option should read this –
http://malaysiawatch4.blogspot.com/2009/07/before-you-send-your-kids-to-study-in.html
Over there, kids finish secondary education in 4 years so if you decide to bring them back for A levels(not STPM), you can reduce schooling by 2 years if your plan is one of the foreign Us that operate in Malaysia.
#10 by voice_70 on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 3:40 pm
It is shocking and sad that to hear of this decision. The quality of English is so bad in this country that some young Malaysians can’t hold a proper conversation in English. Wonder what is the Ministry of Education doing about this. The future generation of Malaysia is in the hands of a bunch of irresponsible selfish individuals.
#11 by SpeakUp on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 4:41 pm
I think DSAI also owes us the nation an apology too because he says English is not preferred. Mr LKS, any comment on what DSAI says? I think you need to since you are only fighting for the best for this nation.
Shameful la you LKS, dare not speak up against DSAI and PKR people like that racist in Kulim, you got no guts to speak for the people when it involves PKR/DSAI etc. You are a gutless politician that cannot be trusted.
Truth be told? Not from you? You are only out to bring down those you have hated all these years.
#12 by casper on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 6:22 pm
With regards to Anwar, it must be noted his exit from UMNO represents a second coming of the man.
I used to have the same question you pose SpeakUp but the career of Anwar while in UMNO certainly does not portray the man he is today and thus, the many folly and mistakes from defending party lines(UMNO) must be taken with a pinch of salt, no more no less.
There is no need for Uncle Kit to confront Anwar or speak against him as it is all in the past. The more pressing concern between the two personalities is how to strengthen current coalition and have a birds eye view on things, even when they might not be able to control what they can’t see.
#13 by SpeakUp on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 10:32 pm
Casper … if Anwar has changed then the PM is really making progress! I doubt both the above is true.
Maybe DSAI truly has but I doubt it. If he has why has he not:
i. acted sternly against that racist in Kulim;
ii. spoken up about accusations that are hurled by PRK against PR coalition members in Selangor;
iii. acted against Johari’s stunt in Penang;
iv. acted when some ex BN members who are in PKR requested for positions for braving the water canons;
v. acted against PKR members who took on LGE over Kg Buah Pala;
The list goes on and on and on. He has said NOTHING. The truth is they have not bothered to strengthen the coalition, DSAI has said nothing about current bickering. Why? Its fragile, the aim now is to topple BN so all keep together la. That on its own is WRONG. The objective has to be to have a nation where our children will have a future.
At present its very clear DSAI is the Tok Dalang, playing from the back (NO pun intended) and then perhaps, when its so so bad, waltz in looking like a hero. This man is treacherous. He only wants to grab power. That is his objective. This will kill the nation.
And that, Casper, is why I think many are foolish to believe DSAI is our saviour. He was a true blue BN kaki and will never change his ways.
Remember his lies about the 41 MP cross over? Those were all LIES. He had NOTHING. Truly nothing. Was playing poker. How can we allow a man to play poker with the nation?
#14 by yy on Monday, 13 July 2009 - 11:47 pm
The fight to keep PPSMI in secondary schools has to continue.
I am just so angry that some of our cabinet ministers are plain useless. They had not stopped the decision to scrap PPSMI in secondary schools in the first place and now they are telling the Chinese media ‘perhaps this perhaps that’ and ‘oh when the decision was made, they had overlooked this’ etc. as if they were not in the cabinet, as if they were just commenting on what THOSE cabinet people do, hahaha. Ong Tee Keat, Koh Tsu Koon, hear this?
#15 by House Victim on Tuesday, 14 July 2009 - 12:18 am
WHY THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF PEOPLE TO CHOOSE THE MEDIUM OF EDUCATION CAN BE ABUSED BY A CABINET?
WHY CAN’T THE PEOPLE REPRESENTATIVE (THE MP?INTERVENE AND HAVE THE FINAL SAY??
The Constitution had BIASED the Parliament, had abuse the Rights of the People!!
IT IS A JOKE!!
#16 by SpeakUp on Tuesday, 14 July 2009 - 10:17 am
House Victim … who will assist? Which MP? The de facto leader of the opposition wants to do away with using English.
#17 by HJ Angus on Tuesday, 14 July 2009 - 10:49 am
The Minister of Education is too busy bribing voters in Manek Urai to think clearly on this issue.
Why should he worry? His children were all probably sent overseas for further studies.
Do you think a person who can use his position for blackmail and bribery can think clearly for your children’s future?
#18 by frankyapp on Wednesday, 15 July 2009 - 3:18 am
In a nut’s shell,the malaysian cabinet descision to switch back BM to teach M&S is a giant step backward in education for malaysia,a most unkindest cut of all for malaysian and a laughting stock for the world.
#19 by yokielaw on Wednesday, 15 July 2009 - 12:30 pm
How did this decision passed through the Cabinet? What is MCS silent about this before the decision? Are they the “Yes-Man” to BN again? So, no difference from the old camp-lah?
So, this is what 1Malaysia meant? 1Bahasa,1Bangsa,1Agama,1Kulitfication,1BajuMelayu,1Songkok,1Sunat,1LimaxSembahyeng,1Sekolah,1Culture,1Makanan (Hidak Halal) = Najib 1Malaysia???
So, in future, translators high in demand. We need translators to even go to space as a space tourist or go makan angin luar negara.Ini macam, tak bolih pakai, pakai di MalaysiaBoleh sahaja. Jom,Balik kampung. 1Malaysia ke arah Indonesia – Iraq (another terrorist nest in future). Suicide bombers and also student suicides (cannot cope in Bahasa or English) in trend.Students drop-outs in 2012 esp those in Form 3 (2012) under PPSMI for 10 years in 2013! Habis-lah Malaysia jadi “katak di bawah tempurung” dan undur ke Tamaddun Batu (Stone-Age).Sayonara….
To save Malaysia blasting to Stone-Age, we parents urge LKS to protest on our behalf and take immediate action before it is too late. Education is under the sole jurisdiction of parents and children and Government should have options to please every rakyat. The objective for the switch was not transparent and not announced.What is the objective? The statistic is one sided (applicable only in rural schools, what about majority of urban schools?).
The ideal would be Maths & Science to be left to the respective schools & parents/students on what language they opt and no one else can make that decision for us as far as education is concerned as it is our children’s future and not their children who all go overseas to study in English and come back with big property big title big salary big post waiting for them as there is no competition bec they all speak englishee…can do corporate jobs.All of us study i n Bahasa only, balik kampung tanam jagung & pertanian to feed the corporate guys.
Come, 2012 – 2015, all schools in urban will only be by the Malays. All the rest go else where.No more future here as we are regressing not progressing.
The 1Malaysia is the modified version of Tun M policy – change English to Bahasa & charge DSAI for sodomyI(now sodomyII). Exactly the same, going back where we started 23 years ago!No change.Now worse than Tun’s time.Havoc & High risk.