WHEN THE EDUCATION MINISTER NEEDS TO BE EDUCATED - MCA REBUKES FADHLINA FOR "CONFUSING" THE PUBLIC WITH LOW MENTALITY ARGUMENTS - THAT TEACHING MATH & SCIENCE IN MALAY IS TO IMPROVE "MASTERY OF MALAY LANGUAGE" - WHEN THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMME IS AIMED TO IMPROVE SORELY-LACKING MASTERY IN MATH & SCIENCE

Written by Saw Yee Fung

Using Maths & Science to improve mastery of Malay language akin to putting the cart before the horse: MoE should retain existing guidelines for DLP.

MCA Youth urges the Ministry of Education (MoE) to retain the existing four guidelines for the implementation of the Dual Language Programme (DLP). Schools which qualify to execute the teaching of Mathematics and Science entirely in English under the DLP should be allowed to continue doing so uninterrupted. The respective State Education Departments should likewise retain the existing guidelines to hold DLP classes.

On 21 December 2023, Education Minister Fadlina Sidek defended the policy change on the DLP on the basis of improving the students’ mastery of the national language as well as mother tongue. The Education Minister seems to be trying to confuse the public. It has always been the position of all parties, including MCA and MCA Youth who voiced up on the DLP, to retain the existing guidelines. Never once was there any intention to neglect proficiency in the national language nor to assault mother tongue education.

Since the beginning, we have never flinched from our position that improving one’s mastery of the Malay language must commence from learning from the Bahasa Melayu (BM) subject, rather than improving one’s BM through Mathematics and Science. Such logic is akin to putting the cart before the horse and fails to accomplish either.

The Education Minister needs to cease confusing the need to retain the existing guidelines for the DLP with the lack in mastering BM and mother tongue. Such a move is a feeble attempt to lump all quarters who desire the continuation of the existing guidelines for the DLP, with unwarranted charges.

Schools which have opted to teach Mathematics and Science in English have adhered with the four conditions and must have obtained prior parental consent. The Ministry of Education should therefore uphold the wishes of the parents. The new policy now requires these schools to open at least one class to teach Maths and Science in the Malay medium. Todate, no answers are forthcoming to the questions from anxious parties:  How will the school screen and select students to be enrolled into classes which will teach Mathematics and Science in the Malay language after years of learning both subjects in English?

We recognise the government’s noble intention to improve the students’ BM proficiency. However, MoE should refrain from simply resorting to any method which may not always be pragmatic. It should tackle problems according to the existing issue, rather than flogging a dead horse which yields no positive outcome. Ultimately, it will be the students who are tossed into the losing end. On one hand, the mastery of BM may not yield the desired results. On the other hand, the goal to enhance one’s abilities or interest in Maths and Science may similarly flop.

MCA Youth will continue to monitor developments on this issue. Any school which is currently in a dilemma, especially schools which have received the directive mandating the opening of at least one class to teach Mathematics and Science in the Malay medium is encouraged to contact MCA Youth at any time. The youth wing of MCA will follow up on this issue and is ready to provide any assistance sought.

It is MCA Youth’s steadfast belief that the MoE must prioritise quality education as its pivotal mission, return education to how it should be, respect the wishes of parents and the autonomy of schools, and retain the status quo of the DLP in schools already implementing this programme. Ideally, students should be enabled to attend classes free of any anxiety.

MCA Youth urges all parents, students and the public from all walks of life who are concerned in this issue to participate in the online petition launched by MCA Youth and various NGOs. MCA Youth will pool all signatures and feedback received, and request to hold a dialogue with the MoE as soon as possible to submit a memorandum. The public is welcome to sign the online petition at: https://chng.it/HCmFBvVcVd .

Written by Saw Yee Fung, MCA Youth Secretary General 

Politics Now!