SIBU: The amount of time spent by students to speak and write in English has to be looked into in order to help them master the language.
“Don’t tell me that this has nothing to do with the students’ performance in school,” Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) president Jisin Nyud told The Borneo Post here.
“It does matter. Many of those from the older generations can speak
and write in English well because of the English-speaking environment. When most of the subjects are in English, definitely the environment would change.
“If not all, at least some subjects are to be taught in English, just like during the time when Science and Mathematics were taught in English.”
Jisin’s remarks came following a recent statement by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who said the early measures to improve the language’s proficiency among teachers and students needed to be enhanced before making English a compulsory passing subject for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) next year.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said this was to avoid any negative implications thereafter, including lower number of students qualified for SPM certificates due to them failing the English papers.
Jisin said: “Early intervention measures and upskilling of English among teachers and students is badly needed, indeed.
“The possibility of lower number of students not qualified for SPM certificates due to failing English is a cause of concern in many schools, especially those in the rural areas. Failing to obtain SPM certificate can be frustrating not only to students, but their parents as well.
“On the other hand, raising the English proficiency among students and teachers by increasing their exposure to the language would take years.”
Jisin said this was also mentioned by Muhyiddin himself when winding up the debate on the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) for his ministry in Dewan Rakyat last Wednesday.