PPSMI and State of English in Malaysia

"Currently, out of the more than 30,000 English teachers nationwide, the prime minister said only eight per cent were confident enough to carry out the PPSMI." - PM Najib Razak as qouted in the Malaysian Insider.

Fact:

1) Most textbooks in science and math are written in English. In fact, all formulas being used in Science and Match are based on English.

2) Only 2,400 teacher are confident in teaching Match and Science in English.

Does that tell you more about the quality of the teachers and their own grasp in English rather than the failure of the program?

"Najib, however, said that the fact that the government is considering making English a compulsory pass subject reflects its seriousness in the matter."

What's the point if they are going to make it so damm easy so that the weaker ones can also pass? Even when I was in school then, the standard between the good and the mediocore were so great, and we were in an urban school, and we still had good teachers, in fact, in my town one of the best schools.

"We can achieve the same objectives if we increase contact hours in English teaching so that students can become confident in other subjects," he said, adding that the government is considering increasing English teaching time in schools soon.

I think it is more wise to increase the English contact time for the teachers while they are in Uni or Teachers Training College than to stuff it into the kids.

Give the kids a break, if you get good Teachers, you get Good Students.

And while they are revamping the program, why not insist the world of science and match speak in Bahasa Melayu.

Shout Out!