Recently, the Penang State Education Department had allegedly sent letters to the principals of 36 Kebangsaan schools (SK) and Tamil Kebangsaan schools (SJKT), as well as 52 SMJK and SMK, stating the Education Ministry’s instructions to implement at least 1 class using Bahasa Malaysia (BM) as the language of instructions starting this year.
The class involved had to also have at least 20 students.
According to a report by Harian Metro, the school boards as well as Parents and Teachers Associations (PIBG) from 11 secondary Kebangsaan schools and secondary Chinese schools in Penang are protesting the forced implementation of the class, adding that parents are refusing to allow their children to be admitted to the class.
They have also urged the Education Ministry (KPM) to listen to objections, respect the wishes of the parents and return to the original intention of the Dual Language Programme (DLP) for Science and Mathematics.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sekolah Menengah Chung Ling Penang, Datuk Seri Koay Hean Eng who represents the 11 schools, explained that DLP for Science and Mathematics can ensure the continuity of students between secondary education and advanced studies in colleges and universities.
On top of that, it can also increase the competitiveness of students at an international level.
“If the ministry’s intention is to improve students’ mastery of Malay, then the ministry should put more effort into redesigning the Malay syllabus and reviewing its teaching methods rather than using it as a medium for teaching Science and Mathematics, which may even have a negative effect on students who already ‘weak‘ in Malay,” he said.
Misunderstanding or misled?
However, there are many who do not understand the school boards’ and parents’ intentions and are condemning them.
Some (since deleted) posts on social media shared misleading narratives about the situation, insinuating that the parents do not want to children to learn in BM. In reality, the parents merely want both languages to be used so that their kids will find it easier to pursue Science and Mathematics when they advance to colleges and universities.
According to a report by Sinar Harian, UMNO Youth Leader Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh also criticised the parents for not agreeing with the use of BM as the medium of instruction, adding that the initiative by KPM should be supported by all parties.
Do you think it is wrong for the parents to insist on the use of both BM and English for lessons in Science and Mathematics? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.
Also read: Puchong Residents are Protesting the Construction of a Chinese School in Their Area, Here’s Why!
