KUCHING: The proposed usage of English as the sole medium of instruction for all non-language subjects in schools nationwide may have sparked rounds of debate but at the same time, it reveals more underlying problems that would need more than any political will to be solved.
This remark by Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar made at the opening of the Johor State Assembly (DUN) sitting on Thursday, which also proposed for his people to emulate Singapore’s single-stream education system, has certainly ignited a string of differing views from Malaysians – on social media at least.
Several views cropped up, including concerns over a possible revival of English medium schools which might, over time, wipe out Malay, Chinese and Tamil medium or vernacular schools. Doubts also abound on whether the sole usage of English in schools could be effective for all students, considering the varying differences in standard of each school in every state, due to diverse socio-economic and geographic backgrounds.
Minister of Women, Welfare and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah was rather reserved in her comments when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday, saying that the issue had already been deliberated in the past and recommendations had been made to improve the nation’s education system.
The concept of a single-language school, she said, could only be made possible if the Johor government – or any other state governments, for that matter – were to be given the autonomy or flexibility with respect to their own education system.
Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian, on the other hand, said he fully agreed with Johor Sultan’s call, saying that English should have equal importance as that given to Bahasa Melayu. However he reminded that should the call become a reality one day, Bahasa Malayu still should remain the national language.
“At this moment, the government should instead make it mandatory for students to pass their English papers in all public examinations,” Baru, who is also state PKR chairman, said.
“We are now living in a ‘global village’ and Malaysians cannot isolate themselves by creating hindrances to progress.”
Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen shared Baru’s sentiments, adding that parents should have the right to choose schools deemed right for their children.
“Nevertheless, English should be encouraged and be given funds to develop. Our government should also have a more liberal education policy where different media of instructions are allowed in different schools.” Chong, who is also state DAP chairman, said making English as the medium of instruction would definitely augur well to students, but should the English medium schools start to dominate the country’s education system, the mother tongues of many Malaysians might risk facing extinction.
“We are very proud of our diverse culture and language. Having said this, I do not feel that single-language medium schools should be made compulsory, as they will destroy our Malaysian identity.” Chong also highlighted an occasion where former Singapore Prime Minister, the late Lee Kuan Yew, once said how he regretted the decision to abolish all Chinese medium schools in the republic.
“Singaporeans still learn Chinese in schools, but it’s still insufficient as a language itself is the identity of the culture and characteristics of that society,” he had said.
In his opening address at the Johor DUN sitting, Sultan Ibrahim also stressed about the usage of English in schools as a unifying factor for society, as reflected by Singapore.
“If the education system continued to be based on race and language since childhood, there would always be a gap between the diverse communities in Malaysia,” the Johor Sultan said.