Berikut adalah intipati temubual dengan pelajar kolej swasta yang akan menyambung pengajian ke luar negara. Ini adalah pandangan peribadi.
These are the following questions that will be asked during the interview session.
1. What are the main causes of the implementation and abolition of teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) in Malaysia?
PPSMI (also known as ‘English for Teaching Mathematics and Science’ – ETEMS) was the brainchild of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, by-then the Prime Minister of Malaysia. The policy was introduced in 2003. As a government policy, it aimed at improving the command of English language among Malaysian students, both in primary and secondary schools. The policy stresses on use of English as the medium of teaching Mathematics and Science as opposed to the Malay language (Bahasa Melayu) used before. The Malaysian Cabinet had decided to implement PPSMI, resulted from the meeting held on the 19th of July 2002. The policy will take effective with Primary 1 pupils an Secondary Form 1 students, who will starting their schooling sessions in 2003. According to the stages, the primary 1 (Year 1) pupils will complete the stage I 2008, while for the Secondary Form 1 students, in 2007.
Among the rationale for this implementation:
1. Government’s concern on the nation’s human capital development towards achieving the standard of a developed country, as well as an early preparation to compete in the era of globalization. Therefore, it is known that the field of these two subjects play an important role in the progress and development of a country. Innovations and discoveries mostly happen rapidly and information access is in the English language.
2. As an international language, the mastery in English language would allow easy access to information in these fields.
To strengthen the policy, the learning packages of PPSMI consist of the followings:
• Textbooks: Given to students as the basic source for learning on concepts and skills in Science and Mathematics.
• Activity Books: Given as supplementary material for students to practice their understanding of the concepts learned from textbooks. These "Buku Latihan dan Aktiviti" or "BLA" were provided for students of Year 1 only.
• Teacher's Guide: Material prepared for teachers as reference and guide to plan and implement effective teaching of the Science and Mathematics.
• MyCD or "Pupil's CD-ROM": "BLA" in the form of multimedia presentations recorded in compacts discs and included with every Activity Book. The contents consists of an interactive games and simulators as well as electronic tests.
• Teacher's CD-ROM: This material was meant to help teachers to plan and implement effective teaching of the Science and Mathematics. Among the contents are questions banks, additional activities as well as URLs to websites with relevance to the subject. These CDs are included in the Teacher's Guide.
• Science Practical Book: Published to ensure that Science are taught not only in theory but also in practice.
• Glossary Book: A reference guide containing definition to terms pervasive in Science and Mathematics.
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• Critical Allowances: 10% for non-graduate teachers and 5% for graduate teachers who are teaching the subjects.
• In house trainings/Courses: Teachers teaching the subject will attend ‘a compulsary 3 week crash course’and further courses. They will also sit for a competency test.
• Trainers/Coaches: English language teachers were appointed as the ‘JU’ (Jurulatih Utama ETEMS ) to conduct the courses/trainings.They were also involved as trainers for various supporting trainings/courses as ‘Buddy System’, Coach/Coachee etc.
2. What are the advantages of the abolition of teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) to our young generation?
Malaysian students will learn the subjects back in Malay language and in their mother tongue in SJK C and SJK T schools. It’s vague when talking about the advantages of the abolition of PPSMI to our young generation. Students learn various subjects in Malay language. They use the language most of the time. They learn English (and sometimes use the language) only for a period or two in a day compare to Malay language. So, I wont say it as an advantage.
3. What are the disadvantages of the abolition of the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) to our young generation?
The generation is at a lost of a golden oppurtunity learning English. Primary school stage is a suitable platform for learning language. There is a chance for our generation to master English language through the teaching of Mathematics and Science. By abolishing the policy, the generation lost an oppurtunity to master a good language. Not only the students, but also the teachers. During the policy held, it also contributed for the teachers to enhance their English language proficiency and competency. Eventhough they are not a perfect speaker of the language, but a least there is a self satisfaction learning the language.
4. Do you think the “MBMMBI” contributes to the abolition of the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI)?
In our educational system, most of the policies were determined by political inceptions. Least is considered about the objective of education itself. The PPSMI policy is not a failure, it was just discontinued and misleaded to succumb to various pressures. The MBMMBI policy did not contribute to the abolition of PPSMI, in fact it does not contribute to anything so far. It only focusing to ‘train’ teachers to become ‘better teachers’ teaching the subjects. As a comparison to PPSMI, the policy is an oppurtunity to all the main stake holders ( the students and the teacher) to learn and to use the language). While MBMMBI is just another policy, (again by political influences and pressures). MBMMBI stands for ‘Memartabatkan Bahasa Malaysia, Memperkasakan Bahasa Inggeris’ – ‘To Uphold Bahasa Malaysia and To Strengthen the English Language ‘ as been claimed. As seen in our educational system, we were always “uphold” Bahasa Malaysia. All the subjects (except for language subjects) are been taught in Bahasa Malaysia ( in secondary schools only, - but SJK C and SJK T schools are allowed to use their mother tongue: this is rather “unique”, and opposing to the Article 152 of the constitution).
5. Do you think the government has raise enough awareness?
To whom? To the public? If for the public, Our Malaysian public do not give a damn to any of the policies, PPSMI or the MBMMBI. Because there is no any clear interest of the public of the policies. The only groups which would like to lit fire on the issue will be the NGOs, which claim that they representing such and such proportion of the people. Now, who, on the earth, would be paying attention to the Ministry’s claim that they are training and giving courses to teachers so that they will be a better Bahasa Malaysia and English Language teachers? Parents? Parents are just people who just want to provide a good education oppurtunity to the children. They do not care about the courses attended by the teachers. They do not really mind whether the children are learning Mathematics and Science in whatever language. But, they, of course will be very proud if their 6 or 7 year kid can utter a few English language sentences in front of the friends and relatives or in public. The ‘awareness’ is not important at all. It’s only applicable for teachers who are involved.
6. Regarding this issue, what do you think will happen in the next ten years?
In next ten years, the educational gap between urban and rural students, and among students of different races will continue to enlarge. Certain students will have better access to better education. Rich families, educated families, affortable families of course. Sending the children to overseas, even for tertiary education will be a trend. And for next ten years, nothing will happen. If it is, it’s only ‘rebranding’ and ‘renaming’of certain policies or even approaches in teaching methodologies. The standard of English language of Malaysian students will continue to decline especially the Malays. The government is very proud to announce awesome figures of Malay students entering local public universities of their excellent results in public examinations but try to have a conversation in English with the graduates. And in the next ten years, insurance policies, banking documents such as hire purchase agreements, law documents, business related documents, innovations and discoveries, sign boards and such, will continue use English language and other language (not Malay) but no NGOs will come forward to backup ‘To Uphold Bahasa Malaysia’ policy then. They only concern when the earlier policy (PPSMI) ‘tried’ to provide a base and oppurtunity for our young generation to learn and master the language through PPSMI. Now, this is the generation in next coming ten years will ask their fellow colleagues and their former English lecturers/teachers to interpret the documents to their Bahasa Malaysia. And it is not surprising if the next coming policy will require teachers to use Bahasa Malaysia to teach English Language.
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