Let schoolchildren master English first: Expert

O Pupils cannot be forced to learn something in a language they cannot even fully comprehend, says Universiti Malaya professor

PETALING JAYA: The government should make it a priority for schoolchildren to master the English language before considering teaching Science and Mathematics in English.

Universiti Malaya Centre For Civilisational Dialogue research fellow Prof Emeritus Dr Shaharir Mohamad Zain lamented the poor command of English of many Malaysians compared with their mastery of Bahasa Malaysia, the national language.

He said this is evident in examination results, which have proven that schoolchildren in the country score better in tests set in the Malay language than in English.

“Naturally, students should master a language first before using it as a medium to learn other subjects. How can you force students to learn something in a language they can’t even fully comprehend?

“The issue is that about 70% of our students are not proficient in English. So what’s the logic of teaching Science and Mathematics in that language?”

Similarly, he said many teachers lack English proficiency and can’t teach students efficiently in the language.

“I recently went to a forum where a few teachers complained that the performance of some of those who are teaching English in schools is not on par with what is required of them.

“I was surprised to hear that. Now imagine those who are not English teachers, and are forced to teach Science and Maths in that language.”

Shaharir was commenting on Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement on Sunday that the primary reason the government plans to introduce the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) is for Malaysians to master both the subjects.

Gerakan Mansuhkan PPSMI chairman Prof Dr Wan Ramli Wan Daud argued that it was best that the two subjects be continued to be taught in Bahasa Malaysia as students will have a better understanding of the subjects, adding Mahathir’s claim that learning the subjects in English is vital since new research is conducted in that language is flawed.