KUALA LUMPUR: More than two-thirds of parents with children studying in Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Daman-sara (SKBD) want the school to be given an option to continue teaching Science and Mathematics in English after 2012.The parents put their views across via ballot papers, which saw 461 agreeing to the proposal. Only 12 objected.
The school's Parent-Teacher Association president, Seth Yahya, said a report on the proposal would be submitted to the prime minister within two weeks.
"We will also give copies of the report to the education minister and the ministry's secretary-general," he said after an extraordinary general (EGM) meeting yesterday.
Seth said the proposal should not be mistaken as an act of defiance to the government's decision to revert to the teaching of Maths and Science in Bahasa Malaysia.
The association accepted the decision, he said, but urged the government to allow schools with PTAs that shared the same views as SKBD to continue teaching the two subjects in English (PPSMI).
"Schools that have benefited from the policy should be permitted to continue to do so."
The proposal also includes changing the school's status and name from SKBD to SK (SMI)BD. The SMI would stand for "Sains Matematik dalam Inggeris (Science and Mathematics in English)".
Several observers from different schools also attended the EGM.
One of them was Toh Boo Huat, 48, from Kampung Tunku, who stayed for the 90-minute meeting. He was determined to start the ball rolling in his son's school.
"Since the decision to abolish PPSMI was made, I've had sleepless nights fearing for my son's future. Before making any big decision, the government must get the views from parents nationwide and not from street demonstrators," he said.
Ruhana Hashim, 47, who is a committee member of SK Sri Hartamas, said all 40 parents she had interviewed wanted the PPSMI policy maintained.
"Those who made the most noise against the policy were the linguists. What happened to the doctors and the technical people like engineers? Why didn't they speak up for PPSMI?"
Another concerned parent was Azura Yahya, who said PPSMI boosted her children's interest in both subjects because they could relate to many books and documentaries from the "Learning Channel" on Astro.
"It is very important to keep the children interested in these subjects as this in turn will make it easier for them to process the information."
For 44-year-old Mazidah Mohd Zain, a mother of four, her worry was for students currently in Year Six.
"They would have learnt Math and Science in English for almost a decade and when they enter Form Four in 2012, they may have some trouble switching back to Bahasa Malaysia.
"As parents, we want the ministry to tell us what to expect in 2012. Things are still unclear," she said.
tunku : we hope that every school will have this meeting and let the parents vote.I am 100% sure majority wants PPSMI. the government should listen to the parents not the ngo's and the so called "pejuang bahasa". muhyiddin you need to listen to us. please visit : http://pagemalaysia.blogspot.com/
Malaysian Ringgit Converter
2 comments:
Hi,God bless Malaysia,
Everyone should be given a choice. Why the English speaking child was not given a chance to continue studying Maths and Science in English?
When I asked a senior assistant from a school in PJ, she told me that most students do not understand the subjects in English. So be it but do give these children whose mother tongue is English to sudy these two subjects in English.
She said that the government showed statistics but what about these children who only understand English . Language can be picked up even as an adult but technical terms in science and maths are something you acquire as you study from young. These terms come in English.
I believe the government should restudy this proposal before they embark on it.
The senior asst. did agree that if there are english medium schools. then these schools will be the ones that will produce excellent students.
Then there will be a wider gap between these schools and those that do not teach Maths and Science in english.
Why create this gap?
Will our children be capable to face globalisation in future with just Bahasa Melayu?
Give a choice to parents and provide english medium schools so parents can choose which school they are going to sent their children.
Salam perpaduan.
With your permission Tunku,
To parents: Seth Yahya, Toh Boo Huat, Ruhana Hashim , Azura Yahya and also to our Anonymous commentator.
Let us all be clear about the subject matter here i.e to possess adequate knowledge of Maths and Science, if not excels in them.
Not every child in a family has the affinity or flare for Maths and Science. Unless, of course all the family members are born geniuses.
After taking various points into consideration,these are what I think you parents out there should look out for irrespective of what the medium of instruction is :-
1. Is Maths and Science syllabuses in your child's school up to the mark?
2. What kind of methodology is being used?
3. How many hours spent in teaching Science and Maths at schools per week?
4. Is the methodology used effective, i.e.
i. At the end of the day, does your child understand what is being taught?
ii. Do you still find that you need to send your child to tuition classes?
5. Does the school your child goes to has adequate Maths and Science teachers and well-equipped with facilities?
6. Are the Maths and Science teachers qualified to teach?
7. What is the turn over rate for Maths and Science teachers in that school?
8. Have you received reports that your child has been missing out during Maths and Science periods?
Last but not least,
9. What is your child attitude towards Maths and Science?
After running down this list, and you still want special privileges for your children's schools and like going global or something, why not send them to an International School. That is if you can afford one.
Or better still why don't you and your whole family relinquish your Malaysian citizenship and migrate. The nearest best choice I should think would be Singapore.
You can't go to UK now, because already ex-Malaysians found themselves still citizenless as per STAR issue today (28 July).
I can only wish you all the best.
Footnote:
If the above list does not suffice please visit this website where assessments have been made on Maths and Science subjects for school going children in Grades 4&8( i.e Primary 4 & Sec.2) around the world, carried out every 4 years. Malaysia participated in 1999, 2003 and 2007. Please read the extensive findings and judge for youself. By the way only Sec. 2 children from Malaysia participated in these tests.
http://www.timss.org
Post a Comment