Bahasa: Improve facilities in poor schools for PPSMI

KOTA KINABALU: The Language and Literature Organisation of Sabah or BAHASA is urging the government to equip poor schools in the rural areas in the state with support infrastructure if the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics (PPSMI) in English is to be implemented.

Its president, Datuk Jasni Matlani said the government should prioritise the aspect of repairing the infrastructure of schools which were mostly in a poor state and were wanting in all areas.

“If PPSMI is to be implemented, the schools must be equipped with support infrastructure including teaching manpower who are truly qualified to teach in English,” he told Bernama here.

He was commenting on a statement by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was quoted as saying that the English Language would be restored for the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in schools.

Meanwhile, Jasni expressed appreciation at the willingness of the Sabah Education and Innovation Minister, Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob to consider several of the suggestions by Bahasa especially empowering the creative writers’ group and sustaining the reading culture among students.

“We are very grateful to Datuk Yusof for taking seriously the suggestions we made during a recent visit to his ministry,” he said.

He said the proposals by Bahasa included working with the ministry to strengthen the creative writing industry in Sabah.

“It should be noted that according to Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) standards, the amount of publications of creative works is one of the conditions for a country to achieve an advanced status,” he said.

Jasni said Bahasa also welcomed the minister’s proposal calling for Bahasa to organise script writing courses, as Sabah is rich in interesting tales that could be adapted into films or documentaries. — Bernama