SIBU: Sending existing local English teachers for courses either locally or overseas will be a more viable long-term solution to elevate the performance of English Language in Sarawak.
This, according to Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS), will expose the teachers to the latest teaching and learning methodology, including the best practices on teaching.
“KGBS is confident such a method is more beneficial than utilising the services of English Teaching Assistant (ETA) which is confined to certain clusters of schools.
“In this regard, KGBS hopes the Education Ministry could review the effectiveness of ETA services in assisting the performance of English Language especially, so that it can give the best returns to Sarawakians,” KGBS president Ahmad Malie told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He was asked on the impact of ETA in lifting the level of English Language among students, especially those in rural areas and with Form 3 Assessment (PT3) replacing PMR this year.
According to the media report, 24.1 per cent out of 37,361 students in Sarawak obtained E for English in PMR last year.
Ahmad said KGBS in principle could not give an accurate picture on the impact of ETA in helping to elevate the performance of English Language among students in Sarawak in particular, involving those on the outskirts and hinterland.
This was because KGBS has yet to do detailed research on the impact of ETA and what more with the number of ETAs placed in Sarawak compared to the total schools in the state.
“Hence, in the efforts to strengthen the performance of English Language in Sarawak in particular, KGBS does not deny the contributions of ETA but with their small number, it is difficult to elevate the performance of the language in such a short span of time,” he noted.