PPSMI : No clear answers from the Ministry

By Sandra Rajoo

Many felt disappointed and let down by the decision taken by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to abolish PPSMI. No matter how lengthy the arguments presented by the MOE, they still fall short.

Saying that teachers have to use Bahasa Malaysia to cater to students who do not understand English does not present a true picture of what is happening in schools. The problem does not lie entirely with the students; difficulty arose because of teachers’ proficiency too. When PPSMI was introduced almost 7 years ago, no proper groundwork was laid to prepare for the transition. Teachers who had been teaching in BM all the while were forced to switch to English. Imagine the difficulty. The MOE implemented some programmes to help these teachers but unfortunately the momentum lasted only a couple of years. After that, as usual, everything died a natural death. By right, Heads of schools should have been tasked with ensuring that teachers conscientiously and continuously upgrade their proficiency, at the same time providing the necessary support. Lack of seriousness and commitment has led to the demise of good policies.

The MOE says the policy is ‘flawed’ but provides no lucid analysis to support this assertion. Surely such a pronouncement requires more substantial and clear arguments. Merely quoting two researches done by two university educationists in my view, is quite inadequate. Who the respondents were, which schools were involved, what the actual findings are etc., are not clearly outlined or explained. We would certainly like to read the actual findings in order to draw our own conclusions. Merely making general statements to justify a reversal of policy seems like a tactic to lull the unsuspecting public to go along with its ideas without question. The Ministry has a research arm, EPRD, but correct me if I am wrong, they did not conduct any study on this very important matter. Why so?

Notwithstanding all the arguments about English being the language of Science and Technology, doing away with PPSMI at this point when there is nothing to take its place where English is concerned, is short-sighted and unwise. The MOE keeps talking about its Strengthening English Language Usage (MBI) policy but so far nothing of value has come of it. The first Year 1 English textbook for 2011 produced for such a purpose was found to be riddled with so many language errors it had to be recalled in the middle of this year. Apart from the millions of Ringgit gone to waste, in those six months one can only assume our children had picked up some really bad English! So, how does this fit into the MBI aspiration? Considering that the Ministry has direct control over the publication of school textbooks, it begs the question as to why a Year 1 book can turn out to be such a mess. Can the MOE ever get the textbook problem sorted out? It remains to be seen.

The public is also appalled by the recent PMR English paper which was riddled with language mistakes as well. The Examinations Syndicate should be taken to task for this fiasco. Why is the Ministry not serious about its own MBI policy? How does it expect schools and teachers to respond if it cannot climb out of its own abyss of apathy and inertia?

Also, the hiring of a few hundred British and American teachers to ‘help’ us sounds grand but it is really an ad hoc measure. Is there a framework against which the outcome of this exercise can be gauged? Who is assessing the situation on the ground? Can we justify the amount of money spent? All these questions beg answers. One cannot turn decades of negligence into success overnight with the hiring of a few native speakers.

The MOE keeps insisting that parents should be more supportive. Contrary to what it believes, parents are all for making our education system a success. Many parents have argued for PPSMI to continue. At least give schools the option to choose. Good sense tells us that all parents will support good and sound education policies that come with proper implementation procedures. If such policies go against good practices, parents will be doing a disservice and injustice to their children and the nation if they do not voice their displeasure.

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Comments (20) Add Comment

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written by Angry Rakyat, October 19, 2011 09:40:33

You people still don't get it... they don't care! not their problem. their kids not here.
You can complain until the cow comes home... they just don't care because it doesn't affect them.
Their kids overseas getting ENGLISH education.
I say, vote them out - ABU x 2^4096

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written by syd, October 19, 2011 07:56:02

There is no words for science in malay. They had to borrow the word from the english language. same for maths. they borrowed from arabic and english.
If you study science and maths in malay, every god dammn word is from english, translated in a honkey dorey way, into malay using malay spelling.
Circuit becomes sirkit.
squash becomes skuasy.
Compound becomes kompaun.
summon becomes saman.
can you see how confusing it is?

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written by 1Beruk, October 19, 2011 02:18:39

When Umno decided on PPSMI, it’s a no brainer solution (a guillotine cures all headaches, never mind the side effect). They panicked when told PPSMI is Umno’s Achilles Heel should the young generation come of age to connect the world through English proficiency, thus the flip-flop.

Post-war communist countries used tight border control to imprison their citizens; criminal Umno pays foreign brain to imprison local brains.

The millions spent on APCO must be the most worthy investment ever made by Umno.

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written by taknakbn, October 19, 2011 00:31:40

The name is called FLIP-FLOP smilies/grin.gif

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written by Sky, October 18, 2011 23:23:20

What does it take to have our Moocow open his eyes and humbled down that he has made a freaking bad decision. Is it big ego that is limiting his sight?
I have a growing hatred to the MOE for destroying our country and making this country full of idiots literally. I am deeply sadden to say that I face frustration communicating with idiots who cannot even understand simple English in my daily work. Go to the Government departments you can really see so many idiots behind the counters. Many cannot even speak properly in English. Some think they are farking smart unknowingly that they are not even able to secure a job in the private sector.
How can we be a developed nation when we have a nation of idiots who cannot communicate to others in the world.
MOE you are screwing up the future of our children and the future of Malaysia big time. May those supporting this damage to our kids future rot in hell.

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written by Rocket, October 18, 2011 22:20:43

This country is decaying and badly infected by the cancerous enthic politics. We talk about patriotism without knowing what it is all about. We talk about nationalism in the narrowest sense. What we are doing is all against human rights and freedom of speech. We have no room for dissenting views. Just like the boss. Rule 1, I am right. If I am wrong refers to rule no. 1. We are destroying this country. We spend our time on silly and petty issues. Decisions made are all lop sided. We pride ourselves being multi-racial and a model for the whole world to follow. I strongly believe all the races and all of us are actually very friendly and helpful to each other. No thanks to the self centered politicians with their own personal interest to poson and destroy these cohesion. Look at our country. It is going down the drains. China took around 30 years to become a world power. It over took us by leaps and bound. Indonesia whom we look down upon is fast catching up. Go to Indonesia and see how rich they are. The reason why they lack behind earlier is because they were weak in English. No more. Indonesia is putting tremendous effort to have their children to be proficient in English. So are the other developing countries in Asia. Now if we are to be living under the coconut shell unable to communicate with the outside world where will we be? Moronwe. Get it. We never says to neglect or do away with Bahasa Malaysia. Studying and teaching 2 papers in Englsih are not going to erode the National Language. Why are we so lame? Don't we have faith in our National Language that it will die off just because 2 subjects are taught in English? Why we always need protection? I guess the tongkat mentality is inprint in our brain - no confident and low self esteem. Well i guess we need to change the government. You know what to do.

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written by SpicaTwo, October 18, 2011 21:54:04

We are responsible for this scenario. We shud have changed BN a long time ago. That Mamak is the result of our negligence of shying away from politics and leaving it all to UMNO and the rest of the thieves. Stop the Unmo children from access to international schools and overseas education and they will change immediately. I am tutoring my children in english everyday. Newspapers, books, magazines, BBC news etc. I leave nothing to the schools.

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written by sky, October 18, 2011 19:00:46

Totally true that a majority of our teachers are incompetent in english. This is especially so when they are Malay. The newer group of Chinese teachers too are becoming incompetent due to our education policy of teaching everything in Malay. Wake up MOE, you cannot stuff this crap into our throat and insist that this is the way forward. Do not restrict the growth and progress of those who want to move forward. Excuses that those in the kampung cannot cope up with english cannot be the deciding factor to restrict the opportunity for others to grow. Why are children of ministers being sent overseas to study when you believe so blardy strongly that Bahasa Malaysia is good for everyone. By the way, why is our Bahasa Malaysia also being changed in name to Bahasa Melayu ?
Why ? Why ? Why ?

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written by PTA, October 18, 2011 18:37:13

Don't know why DPM has to look after Education considering Moohee once screwed out Stamford College for some lands.. Bugger is just another kutu.

I dont want to learn Esperanto but the only language we should all learn is "Change" which translates as to burn Moohee at the stake.

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written by Mypeople, October 18, 2011 18:29:43

PPSMI is a good policy which must be continued as an option for all students.It benefits all students who aspires to acquire scientific knowledge found in English written texts of the highest international standards and enhances their future career prospects in a globalised world. It is the implementation of the policy that was flawed and poorly carried out in some but not all areas.The government must come up with good measures to effectively implement PPSMI to make it an overall success instead of taking the easy way out to suddenly abolish it. Success will come after putting in years of hard work.Have the Education Ministry and the authorities worked hard enough to improve the English teaching skills of teachers.Giving pay rise and bonus to teachers alone does not necessarily lead to improvement of their teaching skills.

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written by ABU LAHAP, October 18, 2011 17:50:51

UNLESS WE DO AN ABU IN GE13 ENGLISH LANGUAGE WILL DIE IN MALAYSIA

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written by Wirawan, October 18, 2011 17:38:30

It is a screwed decision by the ministry indeed . You want to see the level of English in school just read the English
by the student named Victor above. You will see the classic example.

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written by In a Nutshell, October 18, 2011 17:26:29

There is A HIDDEN AGENDA ! Why their own children they will do otherwise, send overseas to english ed. schools.

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written by klchan, October 18, 2011 17:23:39

dom and victor, your english is not good by any standards as it is. Can imagine what it will be like in the near future - bastard umno

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written by The Truth, October 18, 2011 17:01:31

The bitter truth is most of the school heads or headmasters either can't speak proper English or can't speak English at all!!! Don't believe ? Want to find out the truth ? Go to any of the primary schools in the country where the headmaster is a Malay and you will soon find out this bitter truth. Just try to speak to them in English and and be very surprised when they answer you back in Bahasa Melayu. So my question is how to expect the ordinary teachers in these kind of schools to be good in English ? Who is there to check these kind of teachers' profiency in English when even the so called education officers also shy away from speaking in English due to their incompetency

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written by abdullah37, October 18, 2011 16:51:35

WHY DO WE NEED TO WASTE OUR TIME AND MAKING SO MUCH NOISE? WHY SHOULD WE BE LORDED OVER BY A COW BRAINED GOOD FOR NOTHING DPM? JUST DELIVER THE FINAL 'KO' BLOW TO BN BY VOTING THEM OUT COME GE13. NO NEED TO FEAR THE UNKNOWN COZ NOTHING CAN BE WORST THAN THE SITUATION UNDER THIS COW.

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written by TBH, October 18, 2011 16:46:20

We must all keep pilling pressure to the education ministry.
Already they are feeling the heat. Earlier instruction to teach S&M in BM from next year has been replaced with "up to school, Guru Besar to decide, together with PIBG".

Parents and students who want PPSMI must ACT NOW!. Support. Visit http://www.malaysia-today.net/...-an-option

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written by Victor, October 18, 2011 16:26:33

As a student , i'm still not satisfy this decision has taken by the Government, PPSMI will be very positive things that have done 7 years ago, actually is a possitive sign and will improve the international language among students. English is language that can help students go through any kind of education in the world. i personally worry about the future of students in education and their carier or profession.

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written by educationist, October 18, 2011 16:16:41

Sandra, I believe u've hit the nail squarely on the head: there are no clear answers because the decision is a political decision.
Amidst all the confusing signals the only clear sign is that PPSMI is dead; it is a goner for the very simple political reason that PAS & PKR are also on record opposing its continuation!!
The elite UMNOputras will have no problems as will those with the financial resources: their children will enjoy a private education or overseas education!!
Pity the next generation of young Malaysians currently in the school system especially those going to Form 1 & Form 4 next year;overnight they have to grapple with those 2 subjects in BM!!
Yes, Malaysia Boleh!!

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written by dom, October 18, 2011 15:47:05

I wouldn't be surprise if many of those sitting high on the Education Dept/Board have a "half past six" standard in the English language. So how can English language improve in Malaysia?