SIBU: The postponement of a must-pass English in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination starting 2016 is a step in the right direction to ensure better preparations among teachers and students.
Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) said the postponement clearly showed the government’s concern over the gap in the mastery of English between urban and rural students.
“The union fully supports the government’s decision to postpone the implementation, aimed to give more room to teachers and students to be better prepared.
“Even before this, when the announcement was made about English being made a must-pass subject in SPM, KBGS right from the very beginning had objected with the reason that teachers and students especially those in the interior must be ready with the shift. Also, the necessary infrastructure was not fully ready,” its president Ahmad Malie said yesterday.
Ahmad said KGBS was not against the government’s policy but wanted the infrastructure provided was sufficient when the policy came into force.
Despite the announcement, KGBS was firm in urging English teachers and the students themselves to take the initiatives to improve their command of the language, he said.
“In that way, when the government announces the enforcement of the policy in time to come, the students will be more prepared.”
He said the government’s intention was noble although there were still weaknesses that had to be addressed.
“It is better that the enforcement is postponed than to implement something in a less-ready situation which in the end will not meet the desired objectives,” he said.