Monday 29 October 2007

'English only' examination paper for Maths and Science

After reading through this page, it made me wonder why the education ministry tried to change the syllabus from English to Malay in the first place!


I was brought up in the way that the Malay language is the primary language and I must pass the language to see me through primary school and high school. All subjects have been taught and examined in Malay language except for Chinese and English. Students have to struggle between two to three types of languages and it was really difficult.


As you know, there are a few types of high schools in Malaysia. We have the SRJK, SRJK(c),SRJK(t) [state funded or partially state funded school] and also private schools. I am more concerned in dealing with the former three types of high schools in Malaysia. For these three types of high schools, the primary language is Malay and lessons have been taught in Malay (last time) and English for certain subjects like Maths and Science. Just imagine a student had to study the same topic in two languages! How would you feel about that?


I am not saying that reverting back to English is a bad thing. My point is that why we have to study the same subjects in two languages? These are not private schools! Oh, the ministry said that students are not being forced to sit for the two subjects in English but I was told that it will be the case for future primary and high school students!


Current primary and high school students are being taugh Maths and Science in both languages at the same time! I do not know how teachers are going to coup up with teaching two languages at the same time! I would have to ask a few people who are now teaching in primary and high school. I think they do have a better idea of how it is done.


From what I was told, students are not prepared for sitting Maths and Science paper in English. The education ministry was wise not to force students to sit for the two papers in English only. I don't think students are prepared for it, notwitstanding that teachers themselves might find a little bit of a challenege in trying to get the idea across their students!


Students sometimes do not understand why they have to sit Maths and Science papers in English or in Malay. the current position is that students hav the opportunity to choose between two languages when they are sitting for their examination. I think it is such a waste of money in preparing for examination! There will be a waste of paper. Look at the world! We need to reduce paper wastage and not creating more wastage, right?


In my personal view, I think the syallabus should always been in English and not in Malay. Malay should be taught as the primary langauge with English and Chinese. Bring back the British education!!!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The True Story to this is, it was Retiring Dato'Seri Dr. Mahathir that found it highly important to revert back to Englis for this two subjects. They would have never made it in two languages or scraped it off if HE was still PM. I'm a very sure HE is Fumming right now.

The Truth is, it was meant to be in English & English Only but eventually too many Bumiputers, Muslim & Non Muslim Bumiputers were failing & falling out because they have no basic understanding of the English Language. So the Education Ministry slowly made it in two languages & eventually its more in Malay now. These people just can't take challengers, as the PM said; they stick with their goreng pisang mentality!

Another argument is, i don't know whether to believe it or not, MCA reported to the Government that Chinese School Students cannot cope with English for those two subject especially Maths which they are very bright in but comfortable doing it in mostly in Chinese.

ぜるもう said...

Well, I would have to say that in chinese schools, sudents will be more than capable in sitting for all subjecs in chinese except for language papers but to say that they are struggling in Malay or English papers is unknown to me. I need to ask for more information.