Exam way to raise standard of English

WE refer to the ongoing discussion on the declining standard of English in this country and ways to arrest it. Some interesting suggestions have been made, such as reverting to the English-medium schools of the 1950s and 60s, reintroducing the teaching of Science and Maths in English (PPSMI) policy, enhancing the Dual Language Programme (DLP) and hiring retired English teachers.

We align our views with the language assessment perspective. Globally, educational authorities have always considered examinations as their tool to achieve their intended goals. Without examinations, especially those that teachers and students perceive to have a higher bearing on them, it may not be possible to get them to do what they are supposed to do.

The underlying goal of this approach is two-fold: having the students pass the exam in the short term and taking their language proficiency to a better level in the long term.

Language assessment studies globally have empirically proven that using exams as a tool to achieve the intended goals works effectively with other contextual factors, such as:

1. Teachers’ attitude towards teaching and learning the lan- guage; their language proficiency; the assessment system they underwent while in school; the number of years they have served; and their level of commitment to the profession, etc.

2. Students’ attitude towards their language learning, their socio-economic background, parental influence, etc.

3. The efficacy of quality assurance by the ministry, frequency/ mode/quality of communication between the ministry and schools at state and district level departments, etc.

4. The influence of some book publishers and private tuition centres that value money over educational values, and the influence of cultures that value grades over meaningful learning, etc.

Let’s assume that the Education Ministry decides to revert to English medium. Unless an effective overhaul of the entire education system – ranging from transforming pre-service and in-service teacher training, and attending to teaching materials, to intensifying the quality assurance mechanism – has been properly studied and decided, the teaching and learning may only result in the status quo.

Also, getting parents – especially those in rural and semi-urban areas – to agree to such a drastic change can be a daunting task for the ministry. Although reverting to English-medium schools may be a good idea, it may not be presently possible on practical grounds.

As for the Government’s move to introduce PPSMI policy, which it did over a decade ago, the outcome would still be the same if the other aspects (teacher training, quality assurance mechanism, etc) are not attended to.

The English language is important for Malaysians but we should realise that it is a second language, even a foreign language in some parts of the country. So, we should be more reasonable, practical and systematic in our attempts to raise the standard. Some significantly impactful policies have been devised by the Education Ministry over the years, such as the school-based assessment and the DLP policy (an alternative to the PPSMI).

Low-stakes school-based assessment has been empirically proven to help raise the language-learning outcomes in many developed countries. As it was quite recently introduced in our country, we may have to systematically study the extent to which it has been successful. Depending on the results, we have to address the areas in which weaknesses are found.

The DLP may also equally help address the declining standard of the language. It has, however, been carried out on a voluntary basis rather than being made compulsory. It was reported early this year that less than 3% of some 4.8 million primary and secondary students nationwide are participating in the DLP. We may have to find ways and means to get schools to understand the benefits of this policy and accept it.

Another good policy, making it compulsory for students at SPM level to acquire at least a pass in English language subject, was supposed to have been carried out last year but it has been dropped. The Government may need to reconsider this option although the findings of language assessment studies may have to be taken into account.