Govt mulls 2011 implementation of new policy to teach science and maths

Husna Yusop, Giam Say Khoon and S.Hemananthani, Sun Daily

The government is considering bringing forward the implementation of the new policy to replace the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) to 2011 for Year One pupils.

However, this will depend on several factors such as availability of teachers, new curriculum and textbooks for the two subjects by end of 2010, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

According to the original plan, the new Upholding Bahasa Malaysia, Strengthening English (MBMMBI) policy would be introduced to Year One, Year Four, Form One and Form Four students beginning 2012.

“Based on our experience with the PPSMI, the ministry had only six months to prepare for its implementation and this had led to many problems, including in getting enough teachers.

“For the new policy, we need for example some 13,000 additional teachers for all the schools. We also need more English language expert teachers which we will start by recruiting some 1,000 beginning next year until 2012,” he said.

He was responding to questions from Mohd Nor Othman (BN-Hulu Terengganu) and 12 other MPs in the Dewan Rakyat on the implementation of MBMMBI in replace of PPSMI.

Mohd Nor asked the rationale for waiting until 2012 to which Muhyiddin said it was to provide for a soft landing of the new policy, so that the ministry would have time to prepare for it.

He also reiterated that the decision was final and the government was ready and committed to implement it, adding he saw no possibility of reverting to the PPSMI policy.

To a question from Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak), Muhyiddin said it was not true that the RM4.5 billion spent for PPSMI in the past five years had gone to waste.

“For example, in the language laboratories which we are going to build, we will use the existing hardware in the schools. The hardware made up a big part of the RM4 billion expenditure.

“So, it was not a waste. We will keep it for future use,” he said in reply to allegations by Azmin that the money was burnt as the PPSMI was not successful and has destroyed the future of the younger generations.

To Azmin’s point on the strong influence of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the current administration, Muhyiddin said although the former premier was displeased with the decision, he accepted the current government’s stand.

“He understood this is the BN government’s decision. He is a supporter of Umno and BN. He did not make any harsh statements as if asking us to retract the decision,” he added.