STU calls for holistic plan to streamline teaching of English
If we want our students to excel in English, STU would like to urge the agencies, NGOs, the learning institutions or local universities as well as the state government to come up with a programme on how to improve English (proficiency) in the state.
SIBU: A call has been made for the state government together with agencies, non-governmental organisations ( NGOs) and local learning institutions to come up with a programme focusing on enhancing English proficiency in students across the state.
Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) president Jisin Nyud said the reason behind this was for the students to excel in the subject.
His remarks were made in response to a statement by Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, who said the lower percentage of passes in Sarawak for the English Language in last year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia ( SPM) examinations was ‘ worrying’ and that this ‘must be addressed immediately’.
Last year, only 12.7 per cent of SPM candidates in Sarawak obtained at least A in English versus the 14.3 per cent at national level.
Jisin believed that schools had carried out quite a number of programmes with the help of their parents-teachers associations ( PTAs) and local elected representatives ( YBs), but the outcome has yet to be convincing especially from the rural schools.
Jisin Nyud, Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) president
“If we want our students to excel in English, STU would like to urge the agencies, NGOs, the learning institutions or local universities as well as the state government to come up with a programme on how to improve English ( proficiency) in the state,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Jisin believed that there were several factors contributing to the level of English proficiency among students, particularly those in Sarawak – citing the background of the students, particularly those in rural and interior areas, as one of them.
“However, results show that there is some improvement. We know that the schools are trying their best.
“With the implementation of the ‘ 21st Century Approach’, ‘ Dual Language Programme (DLP) and Highly Immersive Programme ( HIP), our ( Education) Ministry and the relevant department are doing their best to enhance the students’ command in English,” he said.
Recently, Assistant Minister for Science Research and Biotechnology Dr Annuar Rapaee had suggested for the placement of students into the English stream at schools in Sarawak, as a way to further improve their proficiency in the language.
He opined that teaching English as a school subject on its own might be inconsequential.