Mixed views on imported textbooks

While some hail Govt’s move, others question if it’s a good idea

GEORGE TOWN: A number of parents have welcomed the Education Ministry’s move to use imported English textbooks in schools next year.

Carolyn Tan, who has twin daughters aged 12, said students would progress faster with the better reading materials.

“As a parent, I’m all for the new textbooks. Don’t underestimate the ability and knowledge of our children.

“In the digital age, there’s a lot of things that they can Google. Information is borderless now.

“It’s good to challenge our level of English with better books,” she said.

Tan, 45, said her children are “easily bored with the current textbooks”, adding that there is nothing wrong with learning more things through new books.

Homemaker Alyssa Ch’ng, 35, also supports the use of imported English textbooks.

“There should not be any barrier or restriction to gaining knowledge.

“The imported resources would help provide a wider range of information that our old textbooks are lacking in.

“With globalisation, it would be wise to expose the younger generation to new knowledge. They will be more open-minded and be better equipped to compete on the world stage,” she said.

Last month, The Star reported that imported English textbooks would be used in schools as part of the Education Ministry’s move to implement the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) aligned curriculum.

The CEFR is a guide developed by the Council of Europe to gauge foreign language proficiency.

Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari then questioned the purchase of the textbooks which he claimed was not done through an open tender like with local textbooks.

He said the new Super Minds (Year One) and Pulse 2 (Form One) textbooks are expensive – costing the Government RM33mil to supply them nationwide.

He added that the replacement of the existing curriculum also comes not long after new English language textbooks for Year One and Form One were approved and purchased.

“Why do we need to use imported books, barely less than a year after local books costing RM7.1mil had been approved and purchased?

“While the local textbooks are subject to competitive open tenders, the purchase of the ‘imported’ textbooks through local publisher Pan Asia Publications was seemingly done by direct negotiation,” Zairil said.

Lecturer Nur Liyana Isa, 29, feels that the use of imported English textbooks may not be a good idea, saying that the existing textbooks would serve students better.

“The current textbooks, with their local situations and values that we can all relate to, were made for Malaysians,” she said.

“It would be a shame to risk losing this ‘Malaysian identity’ should students stop using local textbooks”.

The imported resources would help provide a wider range of information that our old textbooks are lacking in. Alyssa Ch’ng