DR M URGED NOT TO REINSTATE PPSMI
Experts, associations say it had been proven a failure in a 2007 global study
ACADEMICIANS and writers associations have urged the government not to bring back the Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (PPSMI) programme.
This follows calls from some quarters for the prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to reinstate the programme.
International Islamic University Malaysia Malay Studies professor Datuk Dr Awang Sariyan said PPSMI was “laid to rest” in 2012 because it had been proven a failure in international studies conducted in 2007.
He said the same conclusion was reached the following year via studies by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.
“Even though the programme was replaced by the Dual Language Programme in 2016, some still want PPSMI,” he told the New Straits Times Press.
Awang, who acknowledged the importance of English, said the government should instead improve the syllabus and not reintroduce PPSMI.
He said teachers needed further training so that they could conduct better English lessons, adding that they needed to be provided more quality materials.
“Placing priority on English does not mean we have to ‘disturb’ other subjects. PPSMI would be going against the national education policy, which states that Bahasa Melayu is the main medium of education, as contained in the Education Act.”
Federation of National Writers Associations of Malaysia (Gapena) chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Borhan said some people might have gotten “overly excited” when Dr Mahathir announced that he would hold the education portfolio.
Dr Mahathir has since decided to not take up the portfolio to honour one of Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto pledges that the prime minister should not hold another portfolio.
“What these people have forgotten is that PPSMI has been abolished, and the PH manifesto does not mention anything about it.
“What it contains is only that PH will increase the standing of national and vernacular schools,” Zainal said.
He said the standing of Bahasa Melayu was being “pulled down” because there some who believed only English could “solve all problems”.
“Some people argue away, asking whether they would be less Malay if they use English.
“The answer is ‘yes’, because your way of thinking will change and you will be trapped in a foreign ideology,” Zainal said.