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The Mind and IGAUPM is organising a Higher Education Seminar on 10th January 2008. I think it will be a good place for students and parents alike to get information and exposure to the education industry and career prospect.

For more details, visit its website at:

http://www.themindassociation.org/hes.html

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After the final round table discussion on medium of instruction for Science and Maths today, we hear the Deputy Minister saying that seven proposals were put forward after the fourth round table, while stressing that nothing is finalised:

1. Stick to Mathematics and Science in English

- this is an acceptable solution, which I prefer.

2. revert to Bahasa Malaysia.

- this will be the alternative, but something that may not benefit in the long run.

3. let the primary schools teach in mother tongue and secondary in English.

- this is not an good idea as students and teachers will be burdened with unnecessary translation work.

4. let the primary schools decide for themselves

- this is a potential disaster in waiting. There will be logistics nightmare, and possible change of heart by the schools on their whims and fancies.

5. Mathematics and Science be taught in Bahasa Malaysia and mother tongue for Years One to Three and in English from Year Four onwards.

- another no-no. Better just stick to one language, not mix and create rojak culture.

6. a combination of mother tongue in the first three years and a choice of that (mother tongue) and English from Standard Four to Six and full use of English at the secondary level

- somehow acceptable, but still something that burdens students and teachers, and hard to monitor. This seems to be a proposal that is set to appease all stakeholders.

7. the two subjects would not be taught in the Years One to Three and instead be integrated into other subjects.

- A solution that aims to push the problem under the carpet in the expense of the students. So, what will happen to the students when the enter Year Four? What language would they use?

The analysis of UPSR results for the group that studied the subjects in English for six years showed that:

Overall, the trend has been positive. Pupils have actually done marginally better in many instances. More pupils in both urban and rural schools scored A, B and Cs in the two subjects.

Even their performance in the English language has shown a rather big improvement of 4.4% while the performance in Bahasa remained stable, said director-general of education Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom who presented the analysis.

Another encouraging sign was that the number of pupils opting to answer the two subjects in English had increased significantly, reflecting greater confidence in using the language.

In Tamil vernacular schools (SJKT), 62.76% of pupils answered in English for Science and 89.11% for Science.

The scenario was completely different in Chinese national-type schools (SJKC) though. Only 2.86% answered in English for Science and 1.29% for Maths.

Looks like the Tamil schools can easily adapt, but the Chinese school students are not so.

Personally, I believe its good to teach the subjects in English to maintain continuity in higher levels. The students still learn about language and culture in their vernacular environment. So, its not much of a threat. However, it will be an icing on the cake if a subject like “Tamil/Chinese/Malay in Science and Maths” is introduced as a chapter (or few chapters) in language class so that students are exposed to the terms in their mother tongue.

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I’m confused. How can a school be vernacular if every subject except the vernacular language is taught in non-vernacular language?

Did I understand Mukhriz correctly? Well, his boss said that it was misinterpreted.

Hishammuddin Hussein explained that Mukhriz was misinterpreted when he stated in Parliament on Monday that vernacular and mainstream schools should be integrated into one system.

He pointed out that Mukhriz’s comment on the ’schools under one system’ was made polemic by certain irresponsible quarters claiming that Mukhriz had incited racial sentiments.

The minister explained that the education system has two streams, one made up of mainstream schools and another which comprises Chinese, Tamil, mission and religious schools.

He said the profile of students in vernacular schools goes beyond a single race and religion, as children of other faiths also attend such schools.

“The motive of the statement was to encourage solidarity but we link it to racial incitement … when there are two streams of schools that cross all religions, it is not possible to misinterpret (what Muhkriz, right, said) in such a manner,”  Hishammuddin told a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

“I am of the opinion that the one system suggestion is something that has been discussed since Independence and it is an idealistic notion … but looking at our historical context we have maintained the two factions.”

On Monday, Mukhriz created a commotion when he suggested in the Dewan Rakyat that vernacular schools should be united under an integrated system to eliminate polarisation and to promote unity among Malaysians.

Hishammuddin stressed the fact that there are 5,831 mainstream schools compared to 889 Chinese schools, 374 Tamil schools, 410 mission schools and 154 religious schools, showed that the government is keen on building a united nation.

He said that to place all the schools under one system would require looking at the status of land, teaching positions and financial allocations that are unique to the different categories of schools.

“If there is a consensus to resolve all these issues which are somewhat unique to government-aided schools, then it is a good thing to have one system.

“But to make it polemic and to link it to a race issue – that has no basis at all as the four types of schools mentioned comprise Malays, Chinese, Indians, Christians and many others.

“What we are trying to do now is to link the two streams in order to instil patriotism and tolerance among our students. We want to encourage the growth of human capital that we can be proud of and a Malaysian community that is successful.

“I am highlighting this today so that this matter is not prolonged and overblown by irresponsible quarters.”

So, what is Hishamuddin saying exactly? Beating around the bush? He didn’t exactly oppose or deny Mukhriz’s statement. In fact, it sounds like he supports it. So as Mukhriz said, still call them vernacular schools, but all the subjects taught in Malay or English, except Tamil or Mandarin. Isn’t that similar to the current situation? Majority of subjects taught in Malay or English. The syllabus are standardised. Only day to day running of the vernacular schools use the vernacular language, plus the teachers and students at vernacular schools are of the respective race.

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