Few days ago, I heard about it on the radio. Since then, I have been searching and researching about it. Of course, I rely on the news like Berita Harian and whatsnot as my main source of information. 😀 [Note: Even though I do not watch Malaysian TV programme on TV, but I do keep abreast with the latest news about the country, Malaysia using different modes of information]
Like what I have expected, there are positive views and also criticisms about the reintroduction of PPSMI in Malaysian education system. Here are some news from various sources
When it was introduced more than ten years ago, it caused people i.e. parents, teachers and others, to query about its effectiveness. After several years since its implementation and with lots of evidences and research about it, it was postponed (uhuk uhuk stopped). Then it is going to be reintroduced again this year or the upcoming year.
What is my opinion about this?
a) I never had any experience as a student nor a teacher when they implemented it first more than ten years ago.
b) When I was at school for my Latihan Ikhtisas, I notice that majority of students from B40 families at my school are having low proficiency in English. One of the reasons is due to lack of reading. Sometimes, it is not their fault when they could not proficient in English because some of their parents do not use English at home (some use broken English – so what do you expect?) and some of their parents don’t feel the needs to supplement their children with reading materials and exercise books in English.
For these students, it might be difficult for them to understand science and mathematics when they are taught in English as compared to in Malay. I know that some old school people said that they excel and proficient in English because they were taught science and mathematics in English even though their parents were not educated and did not supplement them with English reading materials at home. It is true. But, look at the time frame. Things are different from the years when they were students. Look at the current situation now.
c) The intention to reintroduce PPSMI is good. For the betterment of our future generation. We get that. But how are they going to do that? Teachers are not taught to teach science and mathematics in English.
I remember one of the teachers who graduated from UTM in 2005 that I met when I underwent my Latihan Ikhtisas (she was among the batches of teachers who have experienced to teach science and mathematics in English and they were trained at university to teach science and mathematics in English) who said this to me “I find it hard to teach the students mathematics in English because I have to teach them mathematical terms like division (bahagi), multiplication (darab), addition (tambah) and all. It is not easy for the students to get used to the terms. So, when I have to teach them something involving calculation and solving problem, some of them just rely on the mathematical symbols and not many of the students would able to do well if they were given narrative questions involving mathematical problems“.
d) To conclude, PPSMI is good because the intention is good but we need to be careful when it comes to implementing it. It might backfire us and leave detrimental effects on our future generations. We are attempting to close the social gaps in our society, not broaden it.