While the Education Ministry is evaluating feedback on whether Science and Mathematics should continue to be taught in English from Standard 1, the National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) has suggested that this starts at secondary level.

Its president Hashim Adnan said the NUTP had tabled the proposal to the ministry at a meeting earlier this week.

malay muslim girl students tudung “We made this stand after discussing the issue with our executive councillors in Penang last September. NUTP felt it would be appropriate for the government to start teaching Science and Mathematics in English from Form 1,” he said when contacted.

“If we start in Standard 1, we fee it would be a culture shock for the pupils, especially those from the rural areas. Children who are seven years old are still quite fragile.

“Having three subjects taught in an alien language could be too much and would affect their confidence. If we give the pupils time to learn the language for six years and implement it when they are in Form 1, it would reduce the likelihood of a culture shock.”

Hashim said that feedback from members has shown that primary children in rural areas find it hard to learn Science and Mathematics in English, because their parents do not speak the language.

“This is the limitation faced by pupils in the rural areas compared to those in the urban areas, who may not face problems in studying both subjects in English. This is something the government should consider seriously.”

english educations Hashim said the NUTP is against teaching the two subjects in Bahasa Malaysia as “this is not the way forward”.

“We recognise that we are in a globalised world and the need for (proficiency in) English is there. You cannot learn engineering or medical terms in Bahasa Malaysia. Certainly, our students need to master that language as well.

“We feel our proposal is the best way forward to help the children adapt over a longer period.”

However, Hashim said he thinks the government will keep to teaching Science and Mathematics in English from Standard 1.

Seven options for ministry

It was reported yesterday that seven options have been proposed by stakeholders who had attended a roundtable conference on Monday:

• Continue teaching Science and Mathematics in English from Standard 1

• Take up the NUTP suggestion to start in Form 1, reverting to the use of Bahasa Malaysia in national primary schools, and Tamil or Mandarin in vernacular schools

• Teach in English from Standard 4 onwards

• Use Bahasa Malaysia or the mother-tongue language from Standard 1 onwards

• Allow schools to choose the language of instruction for Science and Mathematics

• Use Bahasa Malaysia or the mother-tongue language for Science and Mathematics from Standard 1-3, and both languages from Standard 4-6 and into secondary school

• Abolish the teaching of Science from Standard 1-3, but teach Science knowledge via other subjects

The options will be submitted to Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein for a decision by the cabinet.