Give parents more confidence in national schools

I READ with fond memories the letter “True reflection of education” ( The Star, May 5).

Reminiscing on the great and glorious days of English-medium schools makes one who is a product of it sad and wonder why a system that was so beneficial to the children and the country at large was replaced.

English-medium schools the likes of Penang Free School, Malacca High School and King Edward VII, Taiping were conducive places for study, holistic character-building and, more importantly, integration.

Boys and girls studied and mingled in the true Malaysian spirit and environment.

What a pity that such a fruitful system was taken away and replaced by the present national school system.

How can the spirit and culture of those English-medium schools be brought back?

As the writer suggested, privatisation of schools may be the answer.

But not all parents can afford to send their children to private schools.

I suggest the Education Ministry allows the present “English” schools to use English as the medium of instruction.

In this way, the pupils will have more opportunity to immerse themselves in the language.

This is what many parents have been clamouring for.

To many parents, mastery of the English language brings better prospect for jobs and social advancement.

Using English as the medium of instruction is not going to make such schools less patriotic.

On the contrary, it may help to solve many problems faced by national schools.

As many parents are losing confidence in our national schools, giving such an idea a trial will not be harmful.

Our education system should be more flexible and accommodative. Private and international schools in reality are replicating the old English school system albeit with some glamorous addons.

But these schools would only be within the means of the affluent and elites.

By giving Malaysian parents more choices, the national education system would be more attractive and acceptable.