‘CONDUCT STUDY ON STUDENTS’ POOR ENGLISH’
Ministry should identify main issues, says NUTP
THE National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has called on the Education Ministry to conduct a comprehensive study on the decline in English proficiency among students.
NUTP president Aminuddin Awang said rather than pointing fingers at teachers’ English proficiency level, the study would allow the ministry to identify the main issues and subsequently address the deteriorating
standard of English among students.
“We must be professional. We do not have a study that explains the problem we are facing.
“In our opinion, it could be due to the shortage of English language option teachers. (But) there could be other reasons as well, such as learning environment, motivation among students and also the fact that English is a non-compulsory pass for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia.
“All these could be factors, hence the ministry should conduct a comprehensive study on the matter to find the ‘right medicine’.
“Currently, the situation is ‘one medicine’ fits all. However, this will not solve anything. This matter has been going on for a long time,” he told a press conference after an English language seminar for teachers at NUTP’s headquarters here yesterday.
The seminar was attended by 40 English option and non-option teachers.
Present were NUTP secretary-general Harry Tan and representatives from Sabah Teachers’ Union, Sarawak Teachers’ Union and Sabah Government Teachers Union.
Tan reiterated NUTP’s stand that English language teachers should not be made to sit the Malaysian University English Test (MUET).
Tan said NUTP hoped to meet Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik to resolve the MUET directive issue.
“Most of our teachers were trained as English teachers at teacher training institutes and universities where they took English Language as their major.
“With such a directive, it seems like the teachers are being humiliated. The teachers are trying their best to carry out the tasks given to them, so please do not undermine them.”