English as SPM compulsory subject: Majority says aye
(NST) – KUALA LUMPUR: Almost everyone is for the proposal to make English a compulsory pass subject at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level. The big question, however, is when.
Some said the proposal should have been undertaken a long time ago while others argued for it to be taken later, when teachers and students in rural areas were ready.
The prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, was among the many who voiced their support.
"It is selfish to think that one who speaks good English is less loyal to the country," she said.
"If you want to be a successful global player you need to speak English. You can't be using the translators because they will take a lot of time just translating one point."
Citing an example, Rosmah said she was amazed to see many autistic Chinese students in Beijing speaking fluent English with an American accent.
"If they can do it and not be less loyal to their country, why can't we?" she asked.
The Federation of National Writers' Associations of Malaysia (Gapena) and the Peninsular Malaysia Malay Students Front (GPSM) both agreed with the proposal, but with provisos.
GPSM said sufficient preparations should be made, including pilot studies, while Gapena suggested that English and Malay literature be made core subjects so that students would master both languages.
Both maintained that English should not be used to teach Mathematics and Science.
Academicians were also all for it. Universiti Teknologi Mara Academy of Language Studies acting dean Associate Professor Dr Saidatul Akmar Zainal Abidin said it should have been implemented a long time ago.
"If, as educators, we keep thinking that students will suffer and they might not be able to catch up, then we will not be making any effort and taking real action to help them have a better command of the language," she added.
Universiti Malaysia Perlis vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Kamarudin Hussin agreed but cautioned that there should be proper planning.
Those who urged caution argued that students who were not strong in the language but were otherwise good in their studies would be unfairly penalised without a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia certificate.
They were not against the concept of stressing the importance of English and ensuring Malaysian students excelled in it, prompting some to offer compromises.
An NST Online visitor posed the question if it was possible to offer two types of SPM certificates — one for those who pass the English paper (SPM-E) and the other for those who don't (SPM-M). (Visit www.nst.com.my for more comments and to take part in a poll.)
Others suggested that the proposal be implemented after more competent English language teachers were available.
The National Union of the Teaching Profession advised the government to "look at the whole picture first before deciding".
Secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said it would be unfair for students to be denied an SPM certificate just because of failure in English language.
The Malaysian Employers Federation and Malaysian Trades Union Congress were on opposite sides, with the bosses arguing that it would be counter-productive, while the union said it would give Malaysians the edge in a globalised world.
On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin called for feedback on whether to make English a compulsory pass subject at SPM level.
