Mahdzir explains why must-pass requirement for English in SPM postponed

The plan to make English a must-pass subject in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) was postponed because students and teachers were not ready for its implementation, said Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid. 

In his parliamentary reply, the Education Minister said this was based following a data surveillance and a specific simulation study on SPM results from 2011 until 2014.

"The results of that study showed that both the teachers and the students were not ready for the implementation of the must-pass requirement for the English subject.

"Therefore, the ministry had decided that the implementation would be postponed until SPM 2016," he said, adding that the move would give students and teachers the time to prepare.

He was answering to a question by Seputeh MP Theresa Kok who had asked when the ministry would implement the must-pass requirement for English in SPM, and at least a C for the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR).

In January last year, the Education Ministry said it would go ahead with the plan to improve the standard of the English language in the country.

However, due to requests from several groups and teachers, the ministry had postponed its implementation.