Political groups welcome move to revert
(The Star) – Political groups have welcomed the move to revert the teaching of Mathematics and Science to Bahasa Malaysia.
MCA information and communications bureau chief Lee Wei Kiat said the Government’s decision was in line with Unesco’s finding that students could learn the two subjects better in their mother tongue.
“For the past six years, many students were affected by the teaching of the two subjects in English and could not catch up.
“This announcement will ensure that our students are competitive in both subjects,” he said.
Lee said the Government’s policy change in 2003 was “a lesson to learn.”
“Many reports have shown that the Government was not prepared to implement such a policy. Because of that, we have lost so much money.
“Therefore, we hope the Government will thoroughly think over proposals for new policies to avoid making such mistakes,” he said.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein was confident that a majority of the people would understand the Government’s decision if they looked at the reasons behind the move.
Hishammuddin, who was the former Education Minister, said it was impossible for the Government to expect everyone to receive the decision well.
“It is not a knee-jerk reaction as a result of political pressure,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
He said the ministry started to study the effects of teaching the two subjects in English during his time as Education Minister.
“We have been looking into the grouses raised for many months and even years,” he said.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said MIC agreed with the Cabinet decision.
He said the Tamil Schools Headmasters Council has asked for both subjects to be taught in Tamil.
“Lets hope the performance of students will improve with this decision. We want more to be done to enhance the use of English in schools,” he said.
DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said the decision was “shocking and a step backward. I am shocked by the Cabinet’s decision.”
Activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye described the decison as regressive and a missed opportunity to really help students.
