Rep unhappy over no funding for English-medium schools
KUCHING: Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen has expressed his regrets over the decision by the state government for the proposed setting up of private schools with English language as the medium of instructions.
He said he was informed that there was no plan by the state government to fund this proposal.
Chong, who is Democratic Action Party ( DAP) Sarawak chairman, said the decision was not in line with the wish of former chief minister, Pehin Sri Adenan Satem.
“He (Adenan) had put a lot of emphasis on the importance of English language and even called for English as the medium of instructions in schools. However, his wish is now gone together with his passing,” said Chong at a press conference here yesterday.
Adenan passed away on Jan 11 this year – his successor Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg was sworn in as the state’s sixth chief minister on Jan 13.
Chong made these remarks following the receipt of a written reply from the state government to a question he posed during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting last month.
He asked the government whether there was such a plan to improve the standard of English language among the younger generation in Sarawak.
The reply also pointed out that the state government had set up the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research, which had been given the mandate to improve the standard of English in schools across the state.
Chong said the Ministry of Education ( MoE) had been talking about improving the standard of English over the past 10 to 15 years.
“In fact, the MoE had introduced lots of programmes, which were supposed to improve the standard of English in schools, but all these programmes had failed.”
He pointed out that the MoE had implemented the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English and also the dual-language programme.
“Yet even programmes, with there these is a continual drop in the standard of English among students in Malaysia and Sarawak. That is why we came up with the proposal to revive English schools, whereby the medium of instruction will be English.
“We believe that is the only way to improve the standard of English among our younger generations,” said Chong, expressing his regret over the state government’s failure to see the point and continue to adopt the education policy implemented by Putrajaya.
He said Pakatan Harapan manifesto had promised to return the autonomous power in education to Sarawak in the event that the opposition coalition wrested Putrajaya from Barisan Nasional ( BN) in the next general election.
“One of the promises is the devolution of power in education, which includes the setting up of English medium schools in Sarawak,” he said.
He (Adenan) had put a lot of emphasis on the importance of English language and even called for English as the medium of instructions in schools. However, his wish is now gone together with his passing. Chong Chieng Jen, Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman