Step in the right direction for schools
Barisan manifesto to strengthen multi-stream system
PETALING JAYA: Enhancing national-type Chinese and Tamil schools is vital to multicultural Malaysia, said educationist Datuk N. Siva Subramaniam.
“Ensuring the different races have access to good vernacular schools is a basic human right. We need more people who can speak Mandarin and Tamil.
“There’s a big demand for multilingual talents,” he said, adding that such schools are popular among all races.
Siva was commenting on the Barisan Nasional’s manifesto pledge to strengthen the multistream education system, which he described as an effort to mark “an end to a long struggle and a step forward”.
The manifesto also aimed at improving students’ English through the introduction of English medium schools in Sabah and Sarawak, and increasing Dual Language Programme (DLP) subjects.
Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahman said it is encouraging that more subjects – besides Maths and Science – will be taught in English.
“But we have to ensure that the teachers are competent,” she said.
Calling for more DLP schools, she said the manifesto means that teachers will finally be able to focus on teaching instead of being bogged down by paperwork.
“Smaller classes are welcomed but the end of crowded double session schools must be in the pipeline,” she said.
Applauding the introduction of English medium schools, she said Johor should also be included in the pilot project.
“These schools can produce competent English language teachers,” Noor Azimah said.
Among the 26 measures outlined in the manifesto to drive human capital and education excellence are the promise of new facilities and special allocations for all Government-assisted schools (SBK), including national-type Chinese Schools (SJKC) and national-type Tamil Schools (SJKT).
Meanwhile, teachers can look forward to less administrative work, better teaching aids and appropriate classroom sizes to handle.
Incentives for capable graduates and retired language teachers to administer online teaching and learning services are also in the pipeline.
National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Harry Tan said the reduced workload will give teachers more “face time” with their students.
“We agree that ensuring the appropriate classroom size is important but it’s difficult to achieve. More feasible would be to make classes more comfortable with functional furniture, or maybe even air-conditioning,” he said, adding that proper maintenance and adequate funds to keep classes in good shape are important.
He said incentives are a must to attract quality educators.
To unlock the potential of differently-abled children, the Integrated Special Education Programme in all schools will be upgraded under the manifesto, including a RM3mil allocation to conduct parenting workshops.
Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education chairman Mak Chee Kin said it’s great that Barisan wants to do more for differently-abled children.
Some families see them as a burden so the allocation for parenting workshops is much appreciated, he said.
“Besides teaching them daily skills, ‘ real education’ in schools is needed so teachers must be properly trained.
“I’ve seen how some special students were just left to roam the halls because their teachers can’t handle them,” he said.
Besides the manifesto pledge for a bigger intake of non-bumiputra students in public universities, citizens with overseas examination certificates that are equivalent to Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), will be considered for enrolment in higher education institutions if they have a credit in Bahasa Malaysia and a pass in History.
Mak said it is right that overseas examination certificates are considered for enrolment in higher education institutions.
He also called for technical and vocational education and training institutions to be opened to all based on merit.