The Malaysian Insider

i rather send my kids to internasional school than.

The problem with the whole thing is that our government and others with inherent interest in this whole thing is not giving PPSMI long enough a time to show its effects. Give it more time and you will see the next generation of teachers more fluent in English and thus becoming better in their teaching skills hence producing better quailty students. PPSMI is axed right when it is experiencing growing pangs all because certain community/race is unable to endure such pain. This is the epitome of a group that has no sense of perseverance and commitment to change. Apt is the old Malay saying, 'hangat-hangat tahi ayam'!

Would non-Malay mother-tongued pupils, other than the Chinese and Tamil pupils, like the pribumis of Sarawak and Sabah be expected to learn in Malay. The 1st language of these pupils vary; from Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, Kadazan, Bisaya, Lungus, Murut and more than 50 others. How are we planning to help these pupils learn Maths and Science for Malay is not their mother-tongue. It's time to train ethnic language Maths and Science teachers!

Woah! as expected. But it is a double edged decision. It would boost BN's chances in Manek Urai but it would also invite scorn from the old man...Tun M.

Personally, not a good move for me..should maintain it and give it more time...6 years is too early to see results.

The problem is not the language.

Disappointed is the word. Politicizing education is not good for the "modal insan" development.

Bloody Nasional Idiots!

Must Vote Out BN in PR2013

Going Backwards to the Future...

Bloody Nasional Idiots!

I think we should continue to teach maths and science in English right from Form 1 all the way up to From 6.

It was a good policy!
When the whole world is heading towards changes, why are we going backwards? English is such a important language, the govt should have looked into ways to improve it rather than scrap it. Its only the start and its obvious that we could not find excellence results fast. Give it a time and introduce the relevant training and teaching skills to teachers and give it a time. We can see a fruitful results later!

And this is the reason WHY!


Official letter from UiTM which was circulated .

4th UiTM INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FIESTA
19 – 23 November 2009 FUTSAL-RUGBY 7- TENPIN BOWLING-BADMINTON

Dear Sport Friends,
Regarding about the global issue H1N1 happens around the world, sadly to be informing that our UiTM International Sports Fiesta will be postponing to 19-23 November 2009.
For all teams which have been confirm to participate in our events, we have to say sorry for this announcements and our Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Health also advise to us to change the date for this current situation.
By the date have been confirm incoming this November hopefully your teams still can participate in our event and don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.
And again, we would like to say sorry about the date change for the sake of our health among us.
See you in this November at UiTM Malaysia !!

Regards,
Mr.Mustaza Ahmad
Director
Sports Centre
Universiti Teknologi MARA
Malaysia

One step forward and two steps back. There goes one of the few things that our primary school students had in common regardless of the type of school they went to. This move by the government will only polarize further our already divided society. You will understand what I mean if you walk into any secondary school canteen and observe the way in which students associate themselves. It is also a blow to our aspirations of creating world class individuals capable of holding their own on the international front.

Ridiculous -- The children of our future are not guinea pigs. Obviously no one in the Education Ministry is a visionary. In the end, it's the Malay kids who will lose out. The Chinese and Indian children will be well versed in 3 languages and capable of becoming world class human capital -- in the end, it's the Malays who will be left behind. Good luck! I think BN will lose the government in 2013 given its track record of flip flop policies -- certainly we do not have a government that has the ability to take the country to a different level of competitiveness.

It looks as if, having just lost one generation of youth who are proficient in English we are going to lose another???

It is that wrong to treat education of our youth as political football changing from one policy to another. This is one area where as a nation, we are losing our competitiveness in a globalized world. Today, we find our youth incapable of conversing in English both orally and in writing at acceptable levels. How do we expect them to compete effectively in the global market place??

Even the standard of English in our public universities is atrocious.

Ridiculous -- The children of our future are not guinea pigs. Obviously no one in the Education Ministry is a visionary. In the end, it's the Malay kids who will lose out. The Chinese and Indian children will be well versed in 3 languages and capable of becoming world class human capital -- in the end, it's the Malays who will be left behind. Good luck! I think BN will lose the government in 2013 given its track record of flip flop policies -- certainly we do not have a government that has the ability to take the country to a different level of competitiveness.

Text book publishers must be the happiest lot. Just translate back the books to Malay and the other mother tongues. Easy job.

Ridiculous -- The children of our future are not guinea pigs. Obviously no one in the Education Ministry is a visionary. In the end, it's the Malay kids who will lose out. The Chinese and Indian children will be well versed in 3 languages and capable of becoming world class human capital. You change to Russian also they will do well -- in the end, it's the Malays who will be left behind. Good luck! I think BN will lose the government in 2013 given its track record of flip flop policies -- certainly we do not have a government that has the ability to take the country to a different level of competitiveness.

Me No Speakee Inggeris...

Satu Lagi Projek Kera-Kera Bodoh Nasional!

How Malaysians going to continue their studies at overseas.

Better develop Bahasa Melayu internationally.

Tun M ... .... Your plans are gone with the current political wind & We can look back to kampung.

Introduced in 2003, the policy has been heavily criticised by Chinese educationists and Malay language activists, but a recent survey by the independent Merdeka Center showed that 58 per cent of 1,060 voters interviewed supported the policy.
---

58 pc supported teaching of science and maths in English.
Their support count for nothing.
Majority voices not heeded.

Is this democracy????

I want to challenge the government to reveal:
All cabinet members - where do they send their children to school????

One thing for sure:
PM Najib sends his children overseas for English education.

In early 1970s our government changed science and maths to Bahasa Melayu.
In 2003 science and maths revert to English.

The reason given by our government was simply this:
After 30 years - the standard of science and maths in BM was dropping.
Students at university not able to cope because they could not read and research in English.
University graduates failed in interviews bcos they could express English well,
they could not articulate in technical ideas clearly.

Technical books could be translated quick enough...blah blah blah...

Then 2003, the bold step to correct the 'wrong.'

After six years, and every year -
Hishamuddin as education minister would announce how great the students were doing.

Then Muhyiddin took over and said the improvement was minimal.

So back to square one -
30 years of failed policy from 1970s to 2002 -
We are going backwards.

One thing for certain -
the rich and powerful are sending their children to private schools -
they want their children in English education.

So this change of policy - from English to BM -
does not affect them at all...

But this is the great hypocrisy!!!!!!!

Please ask where our sultans send their children to school....

Re-introduce English schools-lah (Sekolah) for those who want their children to study in English.
Simple isn't it? Why the half-past-six teaching Maths and Science in English?

Bodoh punya Gomen.

Thanks for condemning the future of young Malaysians.

Dear Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, please to change it due to gaining vote!!!!

Teaching science and math in English is a bridge to link to tertiary level which most of the book in English. Could you find a medical dictionary in Bahasa? Impossible. I still feel that science and math need to teach in English medium rather than mother tongue in order to avoid socking in college or university.

I'm the batch who study science and math in mother tongue but I wonder why my other colleagues still can master English well. Maybe environment. I think include English literature in syllabus won't help students to improve their English. The most effective to improve English is to create an English speaking environment which gives students more opportunity to speak in English. For example to have English speaking day twice a week. All students and teachers have to speak in English.

Personally, I think 6 years is too short a time. Even the teachers are just feeling around.

Anyway, I think 1 too many changes are not good. Too much vested interest here and not enough objectivity.

our policy makers seems to want immediate results without putting in hard work. i.e. nationa car, national motorbike, tallest buildings, biggest flag pole bla bla bla....

what is 6 years ?? what can 6 years show ?? it is not the students who failed to show results, it's the system !!!

now i do agree education are reserved for the rich. they are the one who can affort to send their kids elsewhere while we rot back home with our screw up education system. don't believe, just ask what are the percentage of the ministers' kids had their education here until university level ??

if our system is so good as preached by them, they should set example by keeping thir own kids here. let rot together !!!

Too many cooks spoil the soups. It now depends on the personal initiatives
of the students & parents to expose more on english if they want to live in a borderless world.
Our leaders, cornered by this multi-lingua society just do not know how to govern.
I will send my kids to international schools.

i have told here before,,,this is waht u get,,from bn govn,,they alway,,said they will,,debated over it,,in the end,,the result,is jsut the same,,,,,

EDUCATION MINISTER...
WHAT U WAN!!!!

During British time, English
after independence, BM
then Tun M era, English again
2012, Back to BM

I believe after this statement being released by DPM @ EM
every student should hav been bagging their parents to transfer them to international school or private school or even migrate to oversea to continue their studies

We (students) are not guinea pigs to let u to do research
especially my bro will suffer even more,

Currently he is enrolles in a chinese medium school
so with the current syllabus he gt to study Maths and Science in English and Chinese
n he is only Standard ONE
Bu 2012 he was only in Standard 4

He studied 3 year of Maths and Science in English and Chinese
then suddenly change to BM and Chinese
then after graduate from Secondary 5
if he pursue form 6 Back to English or collage time majority of the courses is taught in English

How malaysia student survive wif such Education Policy tat flip-flops after a few years

Another half-past-six decision.

Since English teaching hours is to be increase by 100% to more than 300% in the primary schools, then means the students will have good grasp of English language for them to follow the Math & Science in the secondary, and therefore help them to prepare for higher education and their career.

Please, teach Math & science (and other subjects) in English from FORM ONE, not to wait until Pre-U.

Back to good old kampung days... Katak di bawah Tempurung!

Please ask where our BN MPs and VIPs send their children to school....

This is a wrong decision. Although I dislike BN, I support their original scheme of using English for science and math.

It seems that BN does not know what is good for the country and continue to keep their correct ideals and policies. This is definitely a political decision and a wrong one! BN idiots.

It's another half-past-six decision.

it's good to see that English lesson teaching hours will be increased by 100% to more than 300% in the primary school , that means the students will have good grasp of English language when then enter secondary school. Let have Math & Science in English start from Form one, not waiting until Pre-U stage, it will be too late for them to prepare for tertiary education in English medium.

Gosh! Aren't we lucky we are in Johore Bahru? We can send our children to Singapore.

I expected some sort of compromise for all: those who can learn in English stick to English; those who can't shall learn in Bahasa / mother tongue, this could be the least controversial. Enriching English lessons, however, is most lauded. I know most scientific journals are published in English but this is basic education we're talking about and not all will find sophisticated scientific journals of any use to them.

South Korea performed the groundbreaking ceremony for an English-centric educational centre in Jeju Island weeks ago...what will they think of this now?

A state of sorryfulness. In this respect Dr. M thought through the longterm of the nation and that is why PPSMI was implemented. Today instead of moving forward, we are moving backwards again, at the expense of our children.

A sad day for the future students of Malaysia. Our graduates are way behind Singapore and India graduates in term of English proficiency. Soon our graduates will have to play catch up with Vietnam and China.

So, this is it. Another stupid Govt decision. This show how incapable our Govt is. No common sense. No proper study being done before implement. Fooling around with people kids future......

PM and Deputy PM,

You have DISAPPOINTED a lot of people. Enjoy your term while you have it.

Do they really have such short memories. When Malay was used for Maths and Science, Malay students did not perform all that great at all. Now when English is being used for a while it became a convenient excuse for their failings. The problem is never really solved and that is why are the Malays weaker in Science and Maths compare to other races. Now it will be many more years and more generations of Malay talents wasted before those idiots in charge of these policies realise their mistake and change again.

For the sake of the Malay students who will actually be the primary victims of these change why don't these policy makers open their mind for a while to think. They should know that the minority races Chinese, Indians, etc don't give a hood what the language policy is. They will continue to learn English, speak English, use English and think English and their level of English will easily surpass the Malays and especially those in the kampongs. They do this not out of love for English but because English opens many door and is an international language. It improves their employability tremendously. It allows them to compete effectively in the globalise world. It allows them to communicate with the rest of the world. It make them very mobile and they can blend into most countries in the world by being English speaking and the list goes on.

The policy makers seem to think that if one wants to excel in English one should just study English literature and have the other subjects in Malay. This is wishful thinking because English is not an easy language - the more one uses it the better one can become. Not teaching Science and Maths in English effectively takes away opportunities for students to practice the language.

How is Malaysia going to become say a research centre of the world like Singapore when the scientist themselves can't even write an English sentence with no mistake. How are the budding Malaysian scientist to publish their work if they do not know how to write proper English. I simply do not understand why we have such stupid and myopic people as policy makers. They are always at trying to find short cuts but in the end the wings of the poor Malays students got clipped and rendered less competitive.

to Hang Tuah

one thing that i know for sure is that our current Agong sends his children to public school in Terengganu.

One day english, one day BM.

Bloody make up your freaking minds!

The simple reason why the government decides to switch it back to BM is clear. Malays are generally struggling to pass that subject.

There was even a deterioration on the average of students passing those subject and the government do not want to be answerable for it. Hence they've decided to switch it back to BM.

This is a political decision, not the wishes of silent majority. The BN government has bowed to the pressure groups who are mostly language chauvinists. With this decision, our children will lose the opportunity to early exposure to learn the subjects in English. The ministers and the rich can afford to send their children to international schools or overseas. Those affected are children from middle and lower income families. These children should not be the scapegoats of political decision.

Satu Lagi Projek Nasional!

It is another project brought to you by Barisan National!

The problem was and remain that politicians make these decisions rather than parents and teachers together. So long that is the case, so long the problems remain...

Tahniah kepada Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan rakan-rakan seperjuangannya,

Terima kasih kerana tuan telah membuat keputusan yang bijaksana untuk memanfaatkan (atau menjahanamkan) masa depan anak-anak Malaysia!

Adakah pengajaran dalam bahasa Malaysia (Sains dan matematik) dapat memupuk golongan pemuda yang dapat bersaing di arena antarabangsa? Saya sedang menunggu penjelasan daripada pihak tuan dengan penuh kesabaran. (saya yakin penjelasan pihak tuan mestilah rasional dan holistik seperti segala penjelasan yang diberi oleh pemimpin-pemimpin BN sebelum ini)

*Why are we putting a 60 years old man incharged of our education system which shape the leaders of tomorrow?

If this is the case then I think we should introduce another type of school SRJK(I) and SMJK(I). (*I for Inggeris) And children in these school can study in their mother tongue, that is English.

When will parents get a chance to vote on such an important issue? Decision made by politicians may not necessarily agreed by public.

According to The Star "Beginning 2012, students in Year One and Year Four in primary schools, and Form One and Form Four in secondary schools, will learn Math and Science in Bahasa Malaysia."

This is grossly ridiculous and and a decision made without thinking. Why must Form 4 be included in 2012? This group of students are the first group that switched to English. After NINE years of learning Maths and Science in ENGLISH, he wants them to to switch to Bahasa Malaysia and expect them to take the SPM in BM the very NEXT YEAR! Why is our EDUCATION MINISTER persecuting this group of students? Just because they are the first batch that are taught in English, they are penalised? Please RECONSIDER!

Another fickle-minded decision from BN politicians, who must take the responsibility and will be cursed by the future generations to come. Damn politicians who politicise every facets of the Malaysian life!!

i am really frustrated , my kids now become abundance after 6yrs in PPSMI. What the hell please create dual medium...malay/english...i want to enroll my kids into english medium....so backwards

Finally due to Manek Urai , Muhydin make this decision.

Stop using our childrens as an "Experiment " whenever Minister of Education Change.

The strength of English has to emphasize on the language itself NOT by means to teach in Math and Science , a stupid policy of TDM before he step down as PM.

Why in olden days , we at the English medium secodnary school has no problems to undertake the English subject, why childrens nowaday seem have plenty of problems to learn this International Languagae commonly used worldwide.

The goverment has make a very wrong move to abadon English as an compulsory subject ,
I really don't know which idiot Minister of Education who is so short-sighted to see the importance of English.

Since the decision is what the chinese and the malays wanted, can the tamil schools maintain teaching of these subjects in English. This will increase the competitive chances of the indian students in the future.

Habislah ...

i would say.. BN dont want the Raykat to learn english as most of the criticism to BN are in English through blog and net.
the less rakyat know how to read.. the more advantage to BN.

Mr. Footforthought,

The UiTM letter(of my former college)...eh ..eh) you had pasted in your post above is an interesting example of bad English. This is normal because English is our second language, so do French, German and Arabic. If an Englishman was to read the letter he will understand because it is not easy to acquire this skill. An English teacher will be alarmed but will not be supprised because he/she is facing the problem everyday. The teacher will work twice harder to improve English among his pupils.

The irony is, how is this problem connected to PPSMI. PPSMI is about the teachings of science and mathematics in English. Please explain how the letter is connected to PPSMI.

P.S : Do you think we should improve the teaching of English in our school?

Thank you

Hah?! 2012? hmmm.. this is the year that we'll be having our next GE.. jangan la terpengaruh wahai rakyat marhain.. tolong la jgn percaya mereka yg bernaung dibawah umno penipu ini.. licik sungguh mereka reka keadaan yg menunjukkan mereka ini baik, prihatin dan mulia konon..

2012 bukan setakat tamatnya isu english ini, tapi ia juga akan menamatkan BN.. Insyaallah..

Berdoalah walaupun kita semua berlainan agama dan bangsa..

If i was rich enough, i would stay in my home and study on my own. Language is a problem, system itself is also a problem. When i asked a friend how did u perform well in your education, he said he went to his 'own school' at 9pm-3am and spending his leisure time in his 'Entertainment Park' at 8am-5pm. No rude manner here, i just dont get what the political figures are thinking.

English is a world wide used language, it is important for our student to master the language, teaching maths and science in english, malay or chinese doesn't make much different, the impotant part is the skill and knowledge that we are looking for, even if you doesn't know english also doesn,t make you stupid, japanese, german etc doesn't know much english they still quite a develop and advance races. no matter how let improve our english standard in school is the job that we must do.

Keputusan ini seolah2 satu kemenangan kepada golongan yang mempertikaikan Dr Mahathir ketika Dia memperkenalkan dasar ini.Kerajaan seharusnya bertindak tegas demi masa depan anak bangsa dengan tidak menghiraukan segala kritikan yang bakal dihadapi dari pengasas dasar ini.Tidak semestinya segala
apa yang disuarakan Dr Mahathir itu mencerminkan kebenaran.Keputusan ini juga mungkin akan naikkan
imej Muhyidin Yassin yang selama ini dikenali sebagai "balaci Mahathir",ternyata segala2nya tidak benar.
Tetapi banyak lagi imej kerajaan yang perlu diperbetulkan,perubahan satu dasar tidak akan mempengaruhi perspeksi Saya kepada kerajaan secara keseluruhannya.

Why think only of the English language, which is incidentally Malaysia's second language? What of the proficiency of the first national language among Malaysians? My Chinese neighbor can't speak Bahasa Malaysia despite being born, raised, and lived in Malaysia the past 50 years. She can't speak English too. So, how did she communicate with non-Chinese?

How could a person living in Malaysia for 50 years not know how to speak the Malaysian language? (Or that Muslims don't drink beer... sigh... that's what I got in return of kuih raya I gave to her). And that's not just that one neighbour - 3 out of 5 (I've always lived in Chinese-majority area since Penang).

And all the fuss is about English. Is it because some ethnic group finds Malaysian language, the language of the country they claimed they love (although they don't join the army to protect it), not their best language? Shame on you.

Here they go again. Flip flop again. The only ones to suffer will bethe innocent children and those who cannot afford to study overseas or at international schools. Wonder where the children of the big shot MPs go to school or university. If the local education system is so good, then they should not send their children abroad but instead ask them to study at local schools and get a degree from a local U.
Our current Agong may send his children to public schools in Terengganu, but being part of the elite, they are probably more exposed to an English speaking environment and have access to opportunities to learn English privately unlike the poor kid in the kampung! I made sure my children learn English by buying books and other materials for them in English, but what about the many children out there who don't have this opportunity and the resources. I attended open day at my children's school last week, and most of the teachers I spoke to could hardly communicate in English!

Tan Sri, you take right for the scrap of teaching English for Mathematic and Science for primary school. But you not right scrap for secondary school.

I think you should consider to continue this policy for mathematic, science, accounting and economic, with English background learn from primary school.

The purpose of teaching Maths and Science in English is not to improve the standard of English among Malaysians but to enable Malaysian academics to improve their knowledge in these subjects as well as to enable them to prepare quality papers in International magazines. To improve the standard of English in general, English and English literature has to be taught and a compulsory pass be made conditional for a special English certificate at he Fifth form level and sixth form level. At the University graduate level too English be made compulsory with a special certificate being awarded. May be then the falling English standards can be arrested. Tun MM is right to be concerned on the competitiveness of the Malay race in particular and Malaysians in general.

I feel so thankful that I was born in the year 1990. I was one of the first batch students to study Science and Maths in English and I definitely think it is a good policy. In my opinion the illustration, the scientific terms in English and the problems posed in English was clear cut and easy to understand without needing to refer to the Malay dictionary. What more I can even relate what I have studied when I'm watching CSI. Now that's what I call learning is fun.

My sympathy to kids who actually wanted otherwise.

lets change goverment and than we change back to English.

Seriously I need to uproot the whole family to Australia soonest possible. The Govt have been in denial stage for too long now. I cannot possibly tolerate any idiotic, senseless decisions any longer so moving out is my only option for the kids' future. Goodbye Malaysia....

I do not unterstand why Malays vote for UMNO BN and sit quietly and watch that this parties take away the only chance for a better future. Only Malays and poor families will suffer! Rich parents pay for their kids education. Why does UMNO BN wants to have the malays behind and say on the other side: we are the only one who fight for them?

HaHa...jolly good choice...smart..very goo....ood decision..I sokong because it can allow us to be a developed country...in the field of science.....

try working in the electronic field or computer field and use languages like.....tak dan gat (NAND gate)..tak atau gat(NOR gate) to the americans or the europeans...guess they will readily adopt our terminology cause it's the best language to use....hahaha!...and Hey! what about the computer field....ah..the americans can't forget our batang gembira(joystick)and our cucuk dan main (plug and play) items...I think they already have their dildos...Hmm..mmm.good for all !...

Another screw up on purpose by the BN govt on the country's Education Policy yet again !! No wonder
the majority of the less fortunate will and remain in the vicious cycle of being shackled to poverty.
This is UMNO's way of curping their intellegence while the Elite Power Group's children will then be able
to take over their Fathers power and rule them. Good on them, since the Malays fight so hard for it,
UMNO is ever happy to Dig a bigger hole for them.

Another step backwards from our dear government. Great!! Erm...how do you say Perbezaan or Pengkamiran in English? Hmmm...That's what we learn...

Brilliant!

Malaysia will excel as a labor intensive low cost country.

Manusia-manusia yang memberi komen di sini adalah bangsa keliru. Pertama, Enggeris adalah bahasa dan cara untuk meningkatkan pemahaman bahasa Inggeris bukanlah dengan belajar sains, tetapi dengan membaca buku dan sastera Inggeris. Kedua, Sains bukan bahasa, sains lebih kepada konsep, keupayaan untuk berimaginasi adalah cara untuk mempelajari sains. Dengan mengajar Sains dan Matematik dengan bahasa Inggeris sama seperti pepatah Melayu, "yang dikejar tak dapat, yang dikendong beciciran". Kalau bahasa Inggeris sudah meningkat, kenapa statistik menunjukkan yang sebaliknya, atau adakah kalian semua buta hati untuk menerima hakikat yang kalian semua salah, ego terlalu besar untuk mengaku kebodohan?

why wait till the next GE?

This is the straw that breaks the camels back. If we all dont stand up and be counted, in another 50 years, we will be sending our daughters to Indonesia to be abused maids and our sons to Vietnam to be exploited construction workers.....

Dear All, was it unexpected? A Change of BN leadership will inevitably bring about changes in pretty many IMPORTANT policies and the lots... It is THE way to make THE MARK.

After all, current economy is not so good, and it is just the right time to legalize a CHANGE regardless of the need, the logic and if it is truly good & best for the masses of 99.9% 1Malaysian Rakyat.

If it is good for the 0.1% in profiteering from the proceed resulting from the instigated change, and I know you would agree with me, the proceeds range from A to Z including 0 to 9. Mind you the profit is not simply RM0.50 (or 50Sen).

And the “BEST” part is they are NOT spending their money, but ours ~ yours and mine, namely the taxes we “obediently” pay yearly. Got my drift?

yeah, i agree. those who support PPSMI are totally ignorance..Don''t care about the impoverished and isolated Dayak children, Orang asli and orang ulu etc...they are rich urbanites. if you are rich enough, then send your children to the private school/tutor...teach em English..don't go to the govt school which are only suitable for stupid poor kids like us...By the way it is not Science or math that teach us to differentiate the different usage of 'advise' and 'advice'..it is English...you moron! (that's only one example).

kick out this cabinet next GE

English subject has been neglected for more than 30 years, therefore just by using 6 years record to analyse is definitely misleading. By dropping the English teaching, it will make our furture generation more dependant on Gov't Job. 30 years ago When our Tun abolished the English, the Gov't still has the financial ability to absorb local Graduates. At that time most of the Ministers are still sending their children to overseas for study and I wonder anyone has noticed them. Do you know that Indonesia also got a lot Graduates and most of them can not find work in overseas. It is merely because they can not speak English. Look at Philipine, most of their maids are able to work in Hong kong or Singapore. This is because they can speak English. In the field of science, when new technology is availble in the world, do our people have to wait for BM version manual available first ????

1. 'two subjects will be taught in Bahasa Melayu in national schools and Tamil and Chinese for vernacular schools':- Is this what One Malaysia is all about?
2."This decision is not political:- If not, what is all the Demonstration by those who love it to be taught by monther tounge is all about?,not political?
3.the policy has been heavily criticised by Chinese educationists and Malay-language activists:- Who are this people? . Should the Young generation be dictated by them?. Who are they to decide for us? The fact is the younger generation are the jewel of this country NOT them!. Ask any younger generation who they are and they will tell you 'I Malaysian' without mentioning their races not like the old days '
4. The BN goverment is so weak and now what matter most is 'POPULARITY"! and they are no different form the opposition.
5. Why is BN succumb to Minority that Majority?
6. I vote for the better and I got the worst!

English in Science & Math for Secondary onwards not Primary !!!

Ask ourselves these questions:
What is the PURPOSE of teaching Science & Math to our Primary Schools' children?
To gain knowledge on both subjests or for mastering the English language?

Please consider the fact that our children in the Primary Schools are from a diverse background.
It isn't hard to understand the suffering of a majority of primary school kids especially those in rural area being force to master an "alien language" & at same time 2 not-so-easy subjects.

In fact, the failed policy had jeopardized our primary kids interests in the 2 subjects.

I agreed the important of strengthening our kids' ability in mastering English but forcing English in Sci & Math in primary school is not the way.

It doesn't matter. Malaysia's future is to remain a consumer and a third world country. There is no need for Math and science in a third world country. We can always export mail order brides, maids, and construction workers. Science isn't for Malaysia.

It is sad that politicians and not educationists who decide issues of education.UMNO,MIC,MCa,Gerakan and all the BN parties would be responsibile for denying our children the right to improve their future.Language chauvinism has overcome academic interests.As a teacher for 34 years, the policy should not have been scrapped but improved.It is sad that Malays and others are denied the bright future that they rightfully deserve purely due to narrow-minded thinking of some leaders.History will point these leaders as the root cause of impediment to national progress.

@NgehNga and mat dengkil
Check your broken grammar, that's why we need to learn English!

A polit.ical decision. The govt can't stand the heat from Gapena and Dong J Z which consist of a bunch of language chauvinist. MCA, you are disappointing. You only care for the chinese speaking group and totally ignore the English speaking group. Just you wait, come next GE, you guys will be history

Another blunder by the government...

Be prepare to see another few hundred thousands Burger Stalls to be opened by our local graduates along all major road side....satu lagi projek Barisan Nasional....

What happened in future, if our next generations are unable to;
1) Understand what is written in the servicing and maintenance manuals properly, how are they going to service hi-tech equipments such as aircraft, heavy machinery and those components and accessories that are purchased from those hi-tech countries. Are they going to work with the assume or not sure attitude and put those passengers on board the aircraft in danger. If the technicians can't read the manual with full understanding and they are going to scrap and change the accessories or components like ah kow workshop, the company is going to suffer a big lost unnecessary.
2) Yes, our country can overcome all these problems provided all hi-tech machinery and parts that are manufactured locally, and all manuals are written in Bahasa Malaysia,do you think we could? until now all the proton and produa engines are import from foreign country and local assemble here and we can't even able to design and local manufacture one local automobile engine yet. what happened if they assemble the engine not as per the manual specification(In foreign language), are you dared to purchase our own local made automobile???!!!

M'sian gov't. & public services commission ...be prepared to recruit more local graduates into
your services. Make sure u reserves more desks for increased employment lists...'cos.
many more graduates will need to join the public services. Your decision today is for your own
(BN)'s political convenient. Dr.M is right when he said English should be taught in these 2 subjects.
At least he realised the important of English. But now 1Malaysia policy twists it back.
I pity the poor & the middle class who've to make do with anything these idiot leaders will throw
at them at their whim & fancy. Remember many a time, these idiots set the rules...but they themselves do not follow. Instead they send their own kids overseas as they can afford after pirating the rakyat's monies time & again.

Stoopid gomen with stoopid policy. Vision 2020??? In Bahasa???
How can we compete with Spore, HongKong etc. We will have illiterate workforce who cannot write a simple sentence in English.

I am proud of all of you. The comments showed that over 95% of the respondents care for the future of our next generation. It is clear that the decision is political, but is detriment to the future of our country.

There is a solution to this impasse. Pick up the phone to reach all your elected representatives in UMNO, MCA, MIC, SUPP, DAP, PKR, PAS, Gerakan and others and demand that you want your children to learn English through the current mechanism of Science and Maths until our country has rebuilt the critical mass of English teachers for the future generation. We simply do not want to deprive this current generation of the valuable English tool.

I have to ask why can't the Education Ministry maintain English for Maths and Science? Is it too expansive? Please note that no amount of money can buy the English language for our young people. Maths and Science are only two subjects. It is in fact an excellent bridge to prepare the teachers to be better equipped with the English language for the future generation when the pupils can start learning proper English starting at Standard one. If our country maintain English for Maths and Science, many current pupils can perhaps learn 10% more of the English language.

I am from the pure English medium stream. I can say that I am already in 1Malaysia from Standard one onwards when I have many Malay and Indian friends. I studied Mandarin for six years in Primary school. I have to say that my Mandarin is now very rusty. I had only one subject in Bahasa Malaysia in Primary and Secondary school. My command in BM today will be better if I had two more subjects in BM, perhaps in history and geography.

My case illustrate that three or more subjects in English is better. In the current situation, it is natural to keep English for Maths and Science for the Primary and the Secondary level. The single English subject should be taught in all Government funded and private schools from Standard one onwards starting in 2010. This I believe will prepare our young people for the great challenges ahead. So, it is up to all of you to demand our MPs that this is the way to go.

hahahahah....keputusan yg di jangkakan.
Semua negara sedang maju ke depan...tetapi Malaysia sedang melangkah kebelakang.....

Well what can i say.....Malaysia Boleh...
"katak di bawah tempurung" lah jadi nya generasi akan datang sbb tak fasih berbahasa inggeris....yang rugi anak-anak melayu juga lahhhh.
tak pelah.....spm english dapat 9 pun kira ok juga.

yes no alright.....

isnt this what the opposition/pakatan rakyat fought for??

Good for you DSAI. You wanted Maths and Science to be taught in BM. Now the BN people copied your ideas. So BN is doing what DSAI wants?

It has never been a case of which language to use to teach Maths and science; though English being an international medium is definitely an advantage. The mind-set is the main issue as to why rural pupils have problems tackling English. And sadly Malaysians of all shades exploited the issue by politicizing it. All the political parties must be held accountable for the uncompetitive Malaysians in the next two generations! The children are capable of learning many languages at the early stage of their life and this would be an advantage as they grow and then learn other subjects. As some pointed out that English can be learned without going through Maths and Science subjects; how true, but with limited materials available in English this option may take some time to develop. Of course, learning Maths and Science in English can give an advantage as they progress but would not necessary make much of real difference as they reach the degree level or even A level.
The leadership of the country does not seem to have a concrete plan in education; they waiver like the lalang in the breeze. In reality they created the issue by making education a tool of the half-past Six politicians who happily send their children to be educated overseas; from where they would continue to lord over the local lost souls. Unless the majority of the Middle class Bumis put on their thinking caps and do something positive, the ultras will again use such issues to shout 'Marauh Kami!!

Wow! Welcome the land of flip-floppers!!!

I agree with 'little sparrow' that the Malays especial the kampung Malays will be the one who will be at a disadvantage because of this switch. Do you think that switching to Malay language in the National Schools for this two subject will give them a better chance to secure jobs in the private sectors? You know who will be smiling ..... the chinese because they are equal good in both mandarin, BM and english because of the efforts of their parents. Even if they are not good with english they can fall back on mandarin because we have a very big market in China where communication is is mandarin and english. Which country speaks BM. Well I see only Indonesia.

Congratulations. Advantage to the non-Malays. Keep it up BN govt.

If all the Ministers and their cronies send their children to government schools, I would say they make a right decision!

Back to the Stone Age for Malaysia! We now can inscribe our Malaysian History in Education on stone.

What a shame, we have voted in a bunch of idiots who cares more for power that they can have than for the good of this country Malaysia!

Another flip flop BN policy! There is no more hope for our future generation as long as BN rules!Now is the time for all malaysian parents who for the sake of their children vote BN out and support any party that is forward thinking, leading the country into globalisation age wherby English is the medium of communication for education and business.

This issue has just break the camel back on me. As for me and my family we will definitely vote out BN!

This is the example of how bad BN lead the country.. The poor results of Math and Science was not due to the language but due to government failure to manage our education system, produce capable teachers and the list goes on.
Sure, it is more convenience it is to find a scape goat and place the entire blame on it rather than taking a hrad look at the root cause of the issue. Again, nothing suprised me anymore knowing than BN is aiming to gain mileage and perhaps some votes from their decision.
Future of our student? Who cares? Those in high power have money to send their kids to the best school and leave the substandard systems to those who can't afford the best education money can buy.
Next GE, let's scrap BN !

What an idiotic DM? Increasing the teaching of english by an extra 80 minutes a week does not improved the command of the language. The need to communicate , the frequency of usage and inculcating the reading habits will do that. We got a bunch of hopeless leadership in this country.

Its going down the drain. I will leave Malaysia.

Which is better? A govt that flip-flops as it decides which is better, or a govt that's adamant that it is doing it right and keep on doing it without looking if it's effective or not? Surely, one that makes proper study and planning is better but what do you expect from politicians and politically-selected high ranking govt servants (not all, some are really good hard-working creative people).

And for those who claim the majority wants English as the medium for Science and Maths, ask yourselves this question: Who are you to say you're the majority? Think again.

We should go back to the 60's where we have got English , Chinese, Tamil. Kebangsaan schools so that the pupils has got more choices.

OMG!! Why the change in policy?. One minute like this...next like that...then sooner or later like this again. Why are people voting for these kind of monkeys?. And theyre the ones who are still running this country?. Its no wonder that alot of the malays I bump into in everyday life whether it be in KL or outstation have a very poor command of the English language!. Shame on the BN ruling govt!. Malaysia can forget about being able to stand side-by-side with the rest of the developed world in 2020. Sori Tun MM, we aint gonna get there as you can see for yourself. We have an Education Minister/DPM who is not a visionary and obviously a misfit when it comes to educating malaysians! He is not qualified to hold that ministerial position. Get rid of him please! In fact let's get rid of all of them - yes I mean BN!! Lets not wait until the next GE!

This reverse decision is just to please the rural folks but gamble away our children future because of Manek Urai by election.

What make goverment thinks Malays or rural folks unbale to learn English , get the competence teachers to teach lah !!!

This stupid reverse decision is going to make our nation going backward to Stobe Age.

Primary to teach Maths and Science is fine but English must be use on these 2 subjects in Sedondary to set a strong foundation prior to Uni level.

Unless our nation is equivalent to advances nation otherwise we should continue to teach in English on most subjects except may be Civic or Moral studies.

It is disgusting to see the barrage of comments of politicizing at the same time condemning this matter.

I, for one, am proud of this decision to retain BM as the language of instruction in mathematics and science. But the rationale behind this decision is a totally different issue all together.

I love my national language deeply and profoundly. I rather have a language that i can feel an affinity with. Though that concept (itself) is being refined, nevertheless it (that refinement) is on the right path.

Instead of being naysayers and cynics like what ALL of you are, stand behind a decision and put your support into it.

If the government decides to do this based on their reasoning, hold them accountable for these actions. Be a check and balance.

Sure everyone has their wrongs. BN, being a party comprising of human beings, has its own flaws too. But let's look beyond that. Stop politicizing every matter. If they (the education minstry) politicize it, fine that will be on their heads and not ours.

STOP perpetuating the cycle. BREAK IT.

Make sure that the Government stick by their decision. For example, that "for secondary students, the duration will be increased from 200 minutes to 280 minutes a week." Ensure that this moves/actions are carried out accordingly.

Let's look at the bigger picture people. All of YOU GUYS that are reading this are fluent english speakers and readers. Think before you talk.

Be the voice of tomorrow, a doer not a talker. Change start from you. Think positive and not cynically. And offer constructive criticism and not harp on bygones.

tell me any country in this world that would say....

well we are technologically advantage bcos we learn english .... bullshit!! from japan to taiwan to korea to dubai those country used their own language to go ahead of us, but they also never lagging behind in trade just bcos they dont know english!!

look at europe, small continent many states many languages,yet none used english or whatever shit to be good in any field!!!!!

Mad Hatter at it again.... looks like Malaysians will be stuck in "Alice in Wonderland" forever, wandering in the wilderness!!!

The level of insanity increases with every decision/statement made.

UMNO/BN has failed again and again, our education system was once the pride of the region but now it has become a pariah with our universities dwindling rankings.

Enough is enough!!!

If you were really thinking about the future of the children you would obviously keep the teaching of science and maths in ENGLISH in an ENGLISH dominated global population.

Stupid fellas.... this is what we call "frogs under coconut shell", they really don't know what out there in the world...we are dead in the water now.. the world is moving ahead... bye bye.

If the rural fellas can't catch-up ..then whose fault is it...stupid idiots.

I have been one of the fortunate few to have been educated in the English Medium and this has help me to progress well in working with international firms where medium of communication is in English. I have interviewed some candidate for employment in the company and with very low command of English it is very hard to score them high.

I hope the government will allow the setting up of more private school with the Singapore syllabus in this country. Otherwise you can expect an outflow of many intellect in the country.

With the comment made by the goverment that there is a lack of English teachers- can the government not set up a couple of English school in every division in the country by pooling all the English conversant teachers together.

I feel pity about my children and their generation. We have group of politicians (both BN and PR) who don't care about the development of the country but more focussed on petty political mileage. I work in a multi national company as a recruiter. Daily I have to go through lot of applications and our team conduct telephone screening to gagauge candidates English level. Sad to say most of our National university degree holders are not able to speak simple English. At the same time look at the country like India from utter poverty they become one of the powerful country in the world. Not because Hindi(national language) but because of their superb education system. There you don't see any Form 6 school leavers teaching in school, you don't see any degree holders teaching in secondary schools because they need teachers education degree or diploma on top of their degree. Look at the standard of people coming India to work here as IT professionals and professional fileds. How many of our so called"think tanks" can think in that way. Politicians both from BN and PR we pity on you. You all are pulling back the country.

...written by Gesundheit, July 08, 2009

to Hang Tuah

one thing that i know for sure is that our current Agong sends his children to public school in Terengganu.
----

Thank you for your response.

Since you are very sure about our current Agong's children -
His children attend primary school in Terengganu???
His children attend secondary school in Terengganu???

Public school???


Just a thought (I watched in the local tv news) when the Agung was coronated,
there was rehearsal - his oldest son came back from England - it was mentioned that
he was studying there. No mention about his other children.

Anyone can verify this story????
---

Anyone can verify other VIPs -
Cabinet members -
Muhyiddin and Hishammuddin's children -
PM Najib's children -

Their grandchildren -

They attend primary schools in Malaysia -
Private or Public -

Do they attend secondary schools in Malaysia, or overseas???
---

The public deserved to know all the answers -
Not to be judgmental or critical -
Everyone has a right to education - where and what schools -
No one should question their choice.

But the public should know - it is public interest -

There is a difference to talk one thing and do another.

We like to say Look East -
Ask any Japanese cabinet members - they send their children to Japanese schools from primary to secondary to university - all in Japan. Only for Master's - or higher - depending on courses - they may send to overseas - otherwise all in Japan - this is why Japanese universities rank tops in Asia and world.

Tun, I think you should be blamed.When you were P.M. you shold have implemented it early and not ON your last day.So i think you to be blamed for not implementing the policy early enough when you ware p.m.

"If the government decides to do this based on their reasoning, hold them accountable for these actions. Be a check and balance."

Hi James... as far as you know have you seen anyone or can you name persons being held accountable for their actions?

TEach Maths and Science in English in Secondary School. Stupid to reverse all. Press the Govt to keep the the policy in Secondary.

Anak Java

"written by Citizen, July 09, 2009
Its going down the drain. I will leave Malaysia. "

Then I say, leave. How dare you claim yourself a citizen when you will only be here when it's not "going down the drain". True citizens will stick here and bring up the country in good or in bad. We do not need those like you. Leave right now and us citizens will be happy!

change person-in charge, change policy (again), the victim? rakyat....

Please give us a choice. For those pupils who want to continue with English, please let them do so, and for those who want to revert back to Malay/mother tonge, they can choose to do just that. I am sure that the majority of parents/pupils will choose English, especially in the urban areas.
And I hope that Pakatan will bring back English/malay medium schools if they come to power.

come on... we are backward enough... dont spoil the future of our next generation...

English... being used internationally, still become a debate in our society. pls, give me a break...

The more educated one will leave this country as a result of this decision.

Well done BN. Filthy rich politicians who sends their own kids to expensive private foreign schools making decisions for the sake of ordinary malaysians who are forced to go to malaysian public schools. Ironic ain't it?

our politicians are totally living living in a different world. Why implement policies which you think "benefit" the education system when you can't even trust the malaysian education system by sending your own children to the same system you implemented?

There would be more brain drain - i assure you.

Please end the policy of teaching mathematics and science in English or PPSMI in primary schools but continue the policy in secondary schools and please restore the English medium schools.

Is Bahasa Malaysia Bahasa Nusantara?

Please take a look at this live interview between broadcasters from Indonesia and our Kuasa Hukum DiRaja Kelantan on "Kapan" for a clue .. http://thextalks.blogspot.com/...guage.html

this is good news. we will see schools being 'privatised' and 'international' schools opening for "business" in all towns throughout the country. students from these schools will really learn english-english and not bahasa-english or half-past-six english. thank you DPM.

I hate to admit it, but I have to agree with Dr M on this one. But my agreement with him in this regard must be tempered. He was also the Education Minister once, but what did he do to safeguard the education system in Malaysia that is now producing students who can't construct a simple sentence in English? It is ironic that he has to whine about the non-existent standard of English now, but at least he is trying to do something about it. The Government on the other hand has abdicated its leadership in this issue. It abdicated its leadership role in favour of the language Nazis, be they Malay, Chinese or Indian. If thinking out a policy and taking the case to the people is so impossible, maybe they should continue to abdicate its role in favour of parental choice. The Government should allow the establishment of (public or private?) schools that use English as the medium of instruction. That way, no one gets the blame, the government gets the credit for increasing parental choice and best of all, it doesn't even need to think! So screw the language Nazis and give a chance to some enlightened citizens who do not want to go down in flames with them!!!

the flip flop continues...

One can argue the fact that other countries use their mother tongue to teach science and maths...

Look at Taiwan - the country is very modern and advanced - one of the largest producer of PC - Acer brand world wide - and they don't use English.

Taiwan uses Mandarin for science and maths - ahhhh, the lesson is If you use Mandarin, you can do well like Taiwan.

How about Korea - they use Korean language for science and maths. Yet Korea is very developed and rich and powerful - they produce Hyundai and Kia and Samsung -
What is the lesson???? Ahhh, if you learn science and maths in Korean language, you can be like them.

How about Dubai - ohhhh, I don't know about Dubai.
They probably use Arabic. Again the lesson is if you want to be successful like Dubai, use Bahasa Arab.

Go and talk to students in Lim Kok Wing - students from Jordan, Saudi - they speak so good English. And they talk to students in local colleges like UiTM - they no talk Inggeris well. Talk to teachers in schools, you will pengsan also.

For 30 years in 1970s to 2002, one generation - what are the results????
If the policy of Bahasa Melayu for Science and Maths was successful,
why change to English in 2003????

The point is this: It was not successful.
Our university graduates could not compete with graduates from overseas and from private universities.

The world revolves around Science and Maths -
a country that cannot do well in these two subjects will be left behind.

In Japan, though they learn in Japanese - but Japanese are so technologically ahead .

In Malaysia, 30 years in BM - just think - Proton engineers in partnership with Japan - until today cannot design our own car engine. Our engineers cannot compete with Japanese engineers. It is a fact.

So, don't compare with Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China.

Look at India, mother tongue in primary schools -
but when their students go higher levels, it is English all the way.
All their universities teach in English.

That is why India is now so advanced in engineering and in science subjects.
They produce some of the best scientists in the world... and they are all English educated.

Our children are losing out in competitiveness without proper command of the English language. All the major developing countries realise this and are preparing their citizens for the new world.

For God's sake give our children a chance to compete with the rest. Our country's natural wealth and resources have already been squandered. We cannot rely on Petronas forever.

Without mastering the English language our children will lose to the foreign competition. We just do not have a big enough market within Malaysia compared to the Koreans, Japanese, Germans or China. Our elected reps should be pressurised not to surrender to the language chauvinists.

Excuse me, do you fellas know the standard of our English in schools today? It is already down the drain, gutter English!! Now we can see it slip further into just dirt. While the standard of Malay is going up with new terminologies. Just Imagine, our university students learning English in universities. Isn't that ridiculous, what a waste of resources?! They should be learning something else, not English. Some even took the opportunity to purposely failied it, so they can then be more relaxed.

Hi foodforthought, would the letter written by Mr Mustaza Ahmad, Director, Sports Centre, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia be comprehensible if the Director had written the letter in BM?

dear Azam, it is true that the national mastery of english is not an absolute requisite & receipi to sucess, a country will still need a clean & dynamic government to lead the country to world class level. You want to compare us to Japan & Korea? Lets forget the government & address the rakyat directly. Semua berhajat nak mendapat biasiswa untuk menghantar anak-anak sendiri keluar negara untuk menuntut ilmu tetapi tak berani menerima hakikat yang penguasaan bahasa inggeris adalah penting untuk masa depan anak-anak kami. How to improve english when even the cartoons on tv are also being dubbed to Bahasa Malaysia. I've got no problem with my Bahasa Malaysia! I even speak Bahasa Malaysia with a lohat Perak! Lets not crawl back to our tempurung! The big world is getting smaller & we are not getting our fair share of fighting space!

I heard that our Deputy PM's English is not so good, is it true?

This is a sad day for Malaysia. A country with leaders that do not have the political will to stand for the good of the nation in a globalised world will lag. And the government continues to wonder why the best brains do not want to return to Malaysia. Is there a future for the best to thrive here? Or is it a nation that slows down progress for the sake of those who resist it?

If Malaysian leaders don't, then Malaysians must make a stand and be heard in any way. For the sake of our children....

they revert back to bahasa so that future writers cannot write english like RPK!

Look at all the supplementary moves taken to boost English while maintaining BM. They all point to quantities - increasing number of teachers, increasing number of hours...

Don't they get it? Or do they think we won't get it?

It's not about quantity - it's about the QUALITY of the teachers.

Having more monkeys doesn't make the place any better. But paying them peanuts will make sure more monkeys enrol.

Increase the pay, tighten recuritment, attract the best and then we can see a difference.

What do you think Singapore did to get their education system up to scratch? They pay teachers well. And the system (people) ends up up well.

I have read comments from people who say we should not criticize for our DPM latest moves and give positive comments. Thus I will do so.

Malayasians do no need to know about the latest happenings in Maths and science. Simply because most malaysians will never need it. Only people in research and development need to know the latest happenings in the world. For the rest, well you only need to know how to hit the "On" button.

Of course, this would mean that Malaysia will always be a consumer of technology, and never a developer. But given how Malaysia has acted over the last 50 years, I guess it is no big lost. Malaysia has always bought its brain, when it needed brain power. Malaysia generally doesn't do it own R & D.

In fact Malaysia currently struggles to be a regional power, so aspiration for global importance is premature.

Thus I argue that the lost of english command is no big lost to Malaysia in general. We are a 3rd nation and our governmental policies seems aimed to keep us that way.

Well,I think DPM ihas made a good move. The rural malays will be happy and the non-malays will maintain their competitive edge for good company jobs. It is a win-win situation. Given that the BN-Government has made it so hard to thrive in this country. I say we should be gladly for this exploitable hole.

Dear SingaRedDevil

Thank you for the question. It would if it was addressed domestically to our esteemed students. But as you can see it is written with regards to an INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FIESTA and therefore one could safely say that there will be international participations. And as English is understood to be one of the major language of communication around the world, putting the patriotic crap aside, one would expect a better command of the language, especially coming from a 'universiti'.
Do remember we are competing globally and not 'glocally'. A case in point is cyber jaya where call centre businesses are lost to India not due to poor infrastructure but poor command of English.
I hope this puts your concerns at ease.

The UMNO government think that Chinese students are language genius...
Learning Math and Science in
Primary: Mandarin
Secondary: Malay
Tertiary: English

Or, or.... to destroy the Chinese students???

The minister should highlight to us what was the original objectives set for the implementation of teaching science and maths in english. Which objective failed to be achieved. State the reason. Let us know if you have taken any corrective measurement to correct this. Don't just simply scrap a policy like scraping a piece a useless paper in midst of a by election and tell us it not politically motivated. I don't think I can buy your story. Also tell us by reverting back to bahasa melayu what is the steps or improvements to be done so that our young generations know what science and maths is all about. Don't just make them score 10 A or 12 A or 20 A.

A Big round of applause to the Education Minister for scraping English for the Teaching of Maths and Science, Bravo !!
China has been actively recruiting American English Teachers for all their schools, most young school
children in China now speaks perfect American accent English. China knows what is good for their
citizens unlike Malaysia and thats the difference, they are hungry for knowledge and they strife for
advancement.
As for Malaysia, the BN Govt only care to remain in power and would not hesitate to use whatever
card that would garner them the votes, the people can fall backwards for all they care so long as
they can remain in power. I hope the Malays in Malaysia will wake up and give this Topic some thoughts
for its them that will be most affected and disadvantaged in the longer term. Do the Malays want to
improve themselves or do they wish to remain at the bottom of the Heap, thats something they will
have to choose.

Taxpayers money going to be spend on translation and reprinting of textbooks. Students have been used as lab rats or guinea pig for 'experiments' for so many times. Pity future students, all hopes destroyed. From 3rd world to 10th world. We sitting PMR this year also fustrated with what the government is doing. Government should help rakyat, not impose something useless. See Singapore, why their currency so high? Because the government implement more useful things. Reverting will also cause everyone to throw their english based mth and sc textbooks, trees destroyed. Future scientists can't even communicate with international scienctist, what a waste!

Malaysia Sangat Boleh!

- we are wayyyyy back behind the rest of other countries

I would challenge Muhyiddin if we were to setup classes for science and maths conducted in 2 sessions (English and Malay) we shall see who will attend the English one more.

Yeah, vote BN out next GE. then Pakatan can implement back PPSMI..

Good for country.. GO PR !!!

I'm a student from a secondary school. Actually teaching Maths & Science in English is a very great idea. We can improve our English from a low level to another higher level. Science & Maths aren't suitable to be taught in BM because most terms are better in English while in BM, it'll be harder...they can't even translate the word. Science words just like Carbon Dioxide, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Carbon Monoxide...in BM they used back the main words...in BM it is Karbon Dioksida for Carbon Dioxide, Oksigen for Oxygen, Hidrogen for Hydrogen, Karbon Monoksida for Carbon Monoxide...there are more words that can't be translated into BM. The examples I had given,what's the difference?? Better to learn it in English!! Learning it in English is far more better than in BM! BM is very unstable, in a year they can change the words such as 'ibu bapa'. Last time, they joined the words...later on, they separated the word. Then rejoined,now re-separated. English is so stable n easy to learn, my English is so far so good. Why can't those rural students start from scratch?? They can be successful in English,but they can't! Why?? Most of them are spoon-fed! I have more to say but to say it in a nutshell, if Malaysia wanna be successful and compete with other countries like Singapore...please stay on PPSMI...continue the teachings in English. Increasing the periods won't help much!! Before the government make this decision, they must ask for our(students) opinions!! Come on...Malaysia!! Wake up!! If Malaysia wanna remain in BM for Maths & Science...I rather embark to Singapore to study Maths & Science in English...although it's expensive but it worths!!

Why? Is English so scary? Just what is it about the language that is inviting so much debate? I frankly don't understand it all but this probably would explain the whole situation, if this prolongs:
"katak di bawah tempurung"
That bugger toad is going nowhere I say.
Back to the shell.

Wow reading the comments here made me dizzy - just goes to show that there is still alot of room for improvement when it comes to grammar, spelling and punctuations in general. I'm proud to say that English is my first language and that it being so has given me an edge over others who choose to not improve their command of it (I can empathise with those who have difficulty mastering, yet many still persevere). Learning Science and Math in English won't improve one's proficiency but as others have pointed out, it definitely makes more sense to learn it in a language that is universally accepted across industries.

I think it is a little short-sighted to compare Malaysia to other developed Asian nations, using language in education as a basis of their "success" - Japan isn't successful because they learnt science in Japanese. Heaven forbid that they succeeded at being an Asian powerhouse without creativity, innovation, industrialism, strategically well-placed economic policies et al.

Love it or leave it, English is still a widely used business language almost anywhere one goes around the world. Even in Japan, because as much as the Japanese are proud of nihingo, they also are aware that being proficient in English is beneficial to them (and in no way makes them less Japanese). It doesn't matter that I can speak German and Italian because when I am on a conference call to Germany and Italy, I speak and am spoken to in English.

The universe doesn't evolve around you. If you want to play the game, you have to be a team player - even if that means doing something as simple as getting your English up to par.

There are new discoveries everyday, science wise, but most of them will be published in English language journals. Depending on who did the translation to Malay...it could potentially have different meaning, that is provided there is someone who is capable in translating them first ! Go figure.

teaching science and math in malay is a big wrong steps.i am a secondary school student.i am very clear that how difficult for a primary school student who learnt science n math in other languages to catch up when at the time they needs to study this two subject in english.I think that teaching science n math in eng will help our country to develope n improve in many aspect.furthermore,if we study sc &math in malay,there will be a problem for student too,because all the scienctific terms only available in english watt!!! many of my friends who had their sc&math in malay cannot follow up with their futher education.many university student still write karbon dioksida instead of carbon dioxide . what is the point to creat such word like karbon dioksida. no point watt. this will only make student caught into trouble.
not only that, the gov. decides that to use back malay language to teach this two subj. brings a big problem to teachers too. teachers study these subjects in BM in secondary school,then study in english when at U,teach in malay , then change to english,now change back to malay language again. ... really took pity on teachers.
in short student shouls learnt sc&math in english language,since this language is thne international language,this language uses world widely . sc&math in english language will brings benifit not only to student but also the developement of our country.!!! think about it

When I was in primary school, we learned Alam dan Manusia (some science there) and Maths in Malay. Does that stop me from reading science books in English? No. I finished all volumes of the American science syllabus, cover to cover of all Britannica volumes and all the maths text books from UK in the school library. Did that confuse me with all the terms? No. In fact, I understand science better since I get to experience the same concepts and ideas in two languages, thus improving my conceptual comprehension.

But in secondary school, I had troubles. Why? Because I didn't refer to any English books for Science and Maths. I should have because I only understood "integration" when I went to college due to the stupid translation "pengamiran" which was supposed to be the derivative of "kamil" (perfect) but some guy in DPB decided to use "r" instead (I only got some concepts in when I saw an old text book calling it "pengkamilan" which makes sense).

So, the problem is not the language used but the CORRECT language that people can understand! It would have been just as confusing in English if the wrong terms are translated from Latin!

All of them in my school want to change malay to english .We want pleasant very much from you.please

Don't know scientific and mathematical English, can't even get a good job in Malaysia, man, unless you are in UMNO. If there is no pool of English proficient workers, why would multinational corporations want to set up facilities here? How to encourage those who are already here to stay if the existing pool keeps shrinking? Kepala kosong, kah?

When i was in primary school i also study science and mathematics in my mother language. When i was in the secondary school, i need to study these subjects in english . only that time i realise that the language is the main problem. we should learn the important subject in english. UJNDERSTANDING is depends on how much hard work one person pay out.using malay as a medium language in science is CONFUSING.because almost every scientifik terms is TRANSLATED from english. it is MEMALUKAN if our scientist or doctor cannot even write a perfect sentence in english.will any people from other country know what is karbon?voltan?people will only know carbon,know voltage.because scientific terms in english is recognise WORLDwidely!!!

Good English teachers don't grow on trees. You need to expose them to the language at a young age. PPSMI was heading in the right direction in this regard, albeit slowly (as is expected when training our young ones to be proficient in the language). So what if it's taking more than 6 years? 16 years? Isn't it worth waiting to see our country compete internationally in science, technology and trade? And BM is not even as 'endangered' as those 'sasterawans' imagine it to be. Why can't we just leave those idiots behind in their fantasy world while we forge ahead into a better future?

I am a Malaysian but been working outside the country for many years. I must say English don't automatically give you any advantages over lets say Malay but it had help me to work effectively for any non-Malay speaking countries. It also really open up my opportunity to progress in my work. Since I can't find and good paying job in Malaysia I guess I'll keep making more money for speaking English.

chinese & indians will eat any pie BN/UMNO gives. In the end, the malays will suffer.
If this country's future generation is ruin, UMNO is the culprit. BN/UMNO only wants
to survive in politics. As such can lean back to entertain a certain race & wants everyone to
eat their EVIL pie. Come what may. Other race can still blast it through.