KUCHING: A local academician is backing former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad renewed call on Wednesday that Science and Mathematics be taught in English.
Dr Ahi Sarok, a lecturer in Universti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), however, said the call might go unheeded since the government had already made a decision on the matter.
“That science and mathematics be taught in English is an old story and we are wondering whether it can be reversed since the government has made its stand.
“Each time a new minister (Education) comes around, new ideas would crop up around this dynamic subject, and at the end of the day, the students and teachers are the most affected,” said.
When making the call during the 2nd International Conference of Teachers Education in Islamic World in Petaling Jaya, organised by Malaysia Islamic International University, Dr Mahathir said science and mathematics were very important subjects and must be taught in English.
“I want to make another appeal (to the government) that science and mathematics be taught in English. We need to be realistic. Bahasa Melayu is not yet becoming science and mathematics language. Both subjects are very important which Malaysians must master.”
Dr Mahathir said that as a Malay he naturally loved Bahasa Melayu but “I prefer that Malaysians must possess”.
Ahi went further saying that not only are the two subjects be taught in English the medium of instruction in schools must also be English.
This president of Bidayuh Graduates Association (BGA) also expressed his unhappiness that much money had been spent with the many changes over the education policy, and less on improving the dilapidated conditions of many rural schools.
He also said that many English teachers were being assessed through online examination, which he described as improper.
“If we really want to assess and evaluate the teachers (English) we should give them proper examination and not online examination,” he said.