TEACHING MATH AND SCIENCE

The Ministry of Education is supposed to be making a decision on whether English will continue to be used to teach math and Science in our schools some time in July. But the public seems as divided as ever, if opinions expressed in the mainstream and alternative media are an indication.


Sometime in the 1970s, the federal government made a decision that all government schools should use Bahasa Malaysia as the sole language of instruction, in the hope of uniting the multiracial people of Malaysia with one tongue, and in fulfilment of the nationalist aspiration for the promotion of the national language as is narrated by UMNO.

Then, a few years ago, while Dr. M was still the prime minister, he made the decision that English should be used to teach math and science, to equip Malaysian students with this language skill for a competitive world. He did this without much consultation with experts and the stake-holders.

So now, educators and parents are up in arms again, torn in an emotional divisive debate that seems to go nowhere. Those who favour the use of


English give the usual argument about how a handle on the English language will improve the chance of children’s survival on the job market in future. Their opponents argue on nationalist sentiments.

The root-cause of disunity among Malaysians is not lack of one common language. Even without going to government schools, most non-Malays would speak some form of Pasar Malay anyway as a kind of national lingua franca.

The root cause of racial disunity in Malaysia is the politics of race practised by race-based political parties that articulate and implement race-based policies.

To a great extent, we can understand the aspirations of the Malay linguistic nationalists. If the Malay parents want their children to learn all subjects in BM, I think they deserve to be supported.

Likewise, if the Chinese and the Indian parents want their children to learn all their lessons in Tamil or Chinese respectively, they too deserve to be supported. I agree that the promotion and teaching of the mother tongue by any ethnic community is a matter of basic human right.

How about those who argue that school students must learn English through learning Math and Science in English, based on the utilitarian value of the English language? They too have a point. English is the nearest thing to a universal language in a rapidly globalised world. It is the language of international commerce, diplomacy, scholarship, and communication through the Internet.

The question here is this: if you want our school children to learn the English language, is teaching math and science in English the best step forward, especially when we consider that the level of English proficiency among math and science teachers may be suspect!

The best way of teaching and learning any language is by total immersion; daily teaching and usage is the most powerful means of learning a language not our mother tongue.

Failing that, the best way to learn English is to teach English as a separate subject, especially lessons on the parts of speech, all the quaint rules of grammar, and the all-important art of comprehension and composition.

Better still, complement this English subject with the study of English literature from a very young age. Nothing engenders the love of children for any language more than learning about the literature of that language, starting with fairy tales and nursery rhymes. The love of literature will nurture the love of reading, which of course is the best way of mastering the language.

All I know is that something is seriously wrong with our entire educational system. There is too much politics in the administration, the formulation of policies, and even the design of the curriculum. There is too much power concentrated in the bureaucratic centre, too much rigidity in the implementation of too many rules, too much instinct to produce the culturally homogenous student population, and too little consultation with parents, students, and the teachers.

It is for this reason that the monolithic structure of the Ministry of Education is now facing the Frankenstein of their own making: how to make our students literate in English without tramping on the nationalistic sentiments of all Malaysian educators and parents? It seems like mission impossible!

Could English be the third language in Malaysian schools for parents and students, after the national language and the mother tongue?? so we must think from now....

Educators need to support the abolition PPSMI - DPM

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin called citizen educators throughout the country wholeheartedly supports cancellation policy Learning and Teaching Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) by changes in national education system.

Deputy Prime Minister who is also Minister of Education, said the teachers need to understand and appreciate the policies of the new government to explain to parents and communities about the cancellation decision.

"Definitely not good if among educators have argued that there are pro and contra. When government makes a decision, it was there rational.

"Hence I hope 100 percent support among citizens and educators on the basis of changes that we do, let all their heart, if not later have to be split in two parts, "he said.

He said this while speaking at the ceremony along with senior educators at the rally Putrajaya International Convention Center (PICC) here today.

Muhyiddin also acknowledge the achievement of students in the city PPSMI quite good but very low numbers

Based on reality is of the view that if government policy PPSMI continued, the majority of students who master the medium and weak in English language will experience double jeorpady (double trouble).

''If continued, feared would be a deficit situation knowledge among students in which students who fail to master the basic concepts of science and math problems to master science and mathematics at a higher level, "he said.

Muhyiddin said, although there are voices that oppose the abolition PPSMI especially in newspapers and blogs, but the silent majority voice must be taken into account.

"80.000 may not agree (with the abolition of this) in the blog, but have close links two or three million more that support, "he said.

He added, five Teacher Education Institutions Malaysia (IPGM) English language college will be established to train teachers of English to teachers of English the best and the best teachers from abroad can be placed in rural areas.

This includes providing incentives to teachers of English are willing to serve in rural areas.

He said, six sub-committees have been formed to implement policies elevate Bahasa Malaysia (MBM) and Strengthening English (MBI).

''This committee is responsible for detailing the aspects of teacher training, curriculum, textbook provision, logistics, personnel and information to the good quality of national education, "he said.

by:
Emmy Satina binti Jusoh
A123306

BY SURINAH LI( A122685)

MATHS AND SCIENCE IN MOTHER TOUNGE

The teaching and learning of science and mathematics in national schools will revert to the Malay language on 2012.Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the teaching and learning of the two subjects in Chinese and Tamil national-type schools would be carried out in their respective mother tongue.Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said the cabinet today approved the suggestion by the ministry to empower the Malay language and strengthen the teaching and learning of the English language at all levels of schooling."This strategy was drawn up based on the study and monitoring carried out by the Education Ministry on the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English since the policy was implemented in 2003," he said when making the announcement at the Education Ministry, here on Wednesday.The first group of students who studied science and mathematics in the English language since Year One sat for their Ujian Penilian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) last year.Muhyiddin said the implementation of the policy of using the Malay language in the teaching of the two subjects would be carried out in stages in Year One and Year Four in the primary school and Form One and Form Four in the secondary school beginning in 2012.However, he said, the change would not involve students in Form Six and matriculation class.He said in order to ensure that the implementation of the new strategy did not affect the achievement of students who were taught the two subjects in English, the teaching of and examination for the two subjects would be conducted in both languages until the last batch of students who were taught in English completed in 2014.He said the government made the decision after scrutinising the outcome of studies and surveys carried out on the teaching and learning of the two subjects in English which showed that it could not be implemented as desired."What is implemented is the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English/Malay languages," he said.Muhyiddin said monitoring by the ministry last year found that only a small group of teachers were using English language fully in the teaching of science and mathematics."On the average, the percentage of English usage is between 53 and 58 per cent out of the total time allotted for science and mathematics," he said.In addition, he said, only a small group of mathematics and science teachers in secondary and primary schools who took the English language Proficiency Level Evaluation test last year achieved the proficiency level.He said the precentage of students who scored grades A, B, and C for the science subject in the UPSR last year had dropped from 85.1 per cent to 82.5 per cent for the urban schools and from 83.2 per cent to 79.7 per cent for rural schools."For mathematics, the achievement of urban schools dropped from 84.8 per cent to 80.9 per cent while the achievement of rural students dropped from 80.9 per cent to 77 per cent," he said.He said the gap in achievement between urban and rural schools in science and mathematics was becoming wider when the PPSMI (teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English) was implemented.Muhyiddin said the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study 2007 also stated that the position of Malaysian students in the science subject had deteriorated from the 20th spot in 2003 to the 21st spot in 2007."For mathematics, the position of our students deteriorated from the 10th spot in 2003 to 20th spot in 2007," he said.He said studies by local universities revealed that the level of improvement in the command of the English language by students was nominal, that is, not more than three per cent throughout the implementation of the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English."The command of the English language among students, particularly in the rural areas, was still low making it difficult for them to understand the teaching of mathematics and science in English," Muhyiddin said.Based on this observation, he said, the government was convinced that science and mathematics must be taught in the language that could be easily understood by the students, namely Bahasa Malaysia in the national schools, Chinese in the national-type Chinese schools and Tamil in the national-type Tamil schools.

BY SURINAH LI (A122685)

Opinion about the existence of political interests in the policy of teaching and learning mathematics and science in English language

I agree that the government decided to implement teaching and learning mathematics and science in English as political impact. Government felt that English language is important in the development and able to compete with foreign countries. This case because the English language is international language and is able to compete international level. I do not agree with the government implementing the teaching and learning mathematics and science in English language as Malay language is used from time immemorial. Malay language also been synonymous with people's lives in Malaysia. I also do not agree because Malay language is symbol of the Malaysian nation in line with the concept that brought by the Prime Minister that our 'One Malaysia'. I also not deny that the English language is important to compete at the international level, but just enough to learn about language and about the communication in English only. It need not be taught in mathematics and science subjects as this will make the students do not understand about mathematics and science.

Emmy Satina binti Jusoh
(A123306)

Ayuna Bt Ahmad (A123566)

Emmy Satina Binti Jusoh (A123306)

Siti Nur Nadiah binti Zakaria ( A122987)

The scrapping of the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) policy on a "soft landing" basis will be done in stages, beginning 2012. Clarifying a recent statement he made on the policy, Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said many parents were still unclear of the soft landing mechanism the ministry would adopt wit regard to the teaching of Science and Mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia. "We have to adopt soft landing approaches so that transition fron the old policy to the new one can take place smoothly and do not shock our children in their learning process," he said.

The government recently reverted to the use of BM in the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics, instead of English PPSMI was mooted by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2003. The scrapping of PPSMI would start in stages, starting 2012 for year 1, Year 4, Form 1, and Form 4. Form Six and matriculation students are not involved. As for soft landing mechanism to implement the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in Bm, Muhyiddin said both subjects would be taught in English and BM for national schools and mother tongue languages for vernacular schools, beginning 2010.

"Teaching and learning of the two subjects for year 4 in 2012, 2013 and 2014, year 5 in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and year 6 in 2014, 2015 and 2016 will be implemented in dual languages." He said students sitting for Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) would be provided options to answer questions either in English or BM till 2016. 'Teaching and learning of the two subjects for Form 4 in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and Form 5 in 2013, 2014 and 2015 will also be conducted in both languages. "Therefore, questions for Science and Mathematics in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination will continue to be set in BM and English till 2015.'

Muhyiddin stressed that the government would allow the present cohorts of students affected or "trapped" by the change in policy to study both subjects in both BM and English. "If you are well-versed in English, then answer the exam questions in English or vice-versa. The cabinet was informed of the decision last week," he added.

Post by : Ayuna bt Ahmad (A123566)

Decision on teaching Maths, Science in English by month's end (Updated)

A decision on whether to continue teaching Mathematics and Science in English is expected to be reached by the end of this month.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the Cabinet would make a final decision after gathering all the feedback from the relevant agencies and other ministries.
"In fact, we are in the process and have already distributed drafts of the review for their perusal.
"After two and a half months since the UPSR results were released, I think it is the right time for the Cabinet to decide.
"The performance of last year's batch of UPSR pupils who had gone through six years of the policy will be used as the yardstick," he said when met after attending a closed-door meeting with state Umno leaders at the Mentri Besar's official residence here on Thursday.
Hishammuddin said the decision should be "rational, logical and acceptable" guided by facts and figures and not based on politics or emotions.
"It doesn't matter if the decision is made before or after the Umno elections as any change in policy will only be implemented next year.
"I will go to the ground personally to explain to the people this issue as they need to know the logistics, such as the number of pupils involved, teachers who were given training, and amount of equipment invested namely computer, laptop and LCD projectors since 2003," he said.
Hishammuddin said he agreed with the call to decide on the issue quickly but an "overnight decision" would affect the pupils and teachers involved.
He said he had also met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to present them with the findings.
"If there are weaknesses in rural schools and teachers, I believe we can make some modifications to suit the needs and situation.
"I am also ready to meet with the group who had submitted a memorandum to the King and champions of language to explain the issue at length," he said, adding that his ministry officials had been engaging these groups since the policy was introduced.
On Umno, he said there appeared to be too much focus of money politics involving Umno politicians as though other parties had no such problems.
"To me, this is double standard as why is there so much emphasis on Umno? Let's be realistic as even US president Barack Obama spent billions of dollars in the elections.
"I hope MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) will be fair to all and start investigating other senior politicians from other parties as well," he said.
Meanwhile, in Putrajaya, Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom said the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) has not affected the achievements of students who sat for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) last year.
He said that in Additional Mathematics Paper 1, 89.1% of 178,751 opted to answer fully in English.
“I’m satisfied as I see more students choosing to answer papers such as Chemistry 2 and 3, which are mainly subjective, in English” he told a press conference when announcing the SPM and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) results at the ministry on Thursday.
He said 71.3% and 76.8% of students who sat for Chemistry Papers 2 and 3 respectively answered in English.
The other subjects which had the highest percentages of those answering fully in English included Additional Mathematics Paper 2 at 86.2%, Biology Paper 3 (81.5%) and Chemistry Paper 3 (76.8%).
“We are unable to make a comparison with 2007 as there is no data available on this. It is only this year that we got the students to mark whether they opted to answer in English or other languages,” said Alimuddin.
Students can opt to answer Science and Mathematics papers in English or Bahasa Malaysia, or in both languages.
Alimuddin said the students who sat for the SPM last year were the second batch to have studied Science and Mathematics subjects in English since the introduction of the policy in 2003.
Giving Chemistry as an example, he said the performance of students in urban and rural areas was not affected and there had been improvements since the start of the policy.
“In terms of those who achieved 1As and 2As, there was a 2.5% and 1.5% increase for those in urban and rural areas respectively since 2003,” he said.
However, Alimuddin said there was a 1.6% decrease in the number of students who obtained 1As and 2As for English.
The ministry, he added, would take steps to ensure improvements were made in terms of teacher proficiency.

Emmy Satina Binti Jusoh
(A123306)

NO MORE ENGLISH IN SCIENCE AND MATHEMMATICS BY 2012

NO MORE ENGLISH IN SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS BY 2012.

No more English in science and mathematics by 2012. That is the long overdue decision from the Ministry of Education on the policy of teaching science and mathematics in English (PPSMI). The Education Minister stressed it is purely an objective decision and cited the rationale of the decision is based on poor English competence among teachers, widening performance gap between rural schools and urban schools. In a press conference, he again refuted the claim of political influence in the decision-making process.
The decision is not likely to please everybody, and the debate is sure to rage for years to come. After all, it is an issue that affects all parents in the country. On his blog, Dr Mahathir Mohamad has conducted a poll to survey public opinion on the matter. About 72 percent of the respondents are against the government decision. But then, the teaching of Math and Science in English was the brainchild of this former prime minister, and the recent reversal by the current government can only be seen by him as a betrayal of his personal legacy.
Dr. Mahathir who disappointedly said:
“Seems to me like the Government is not listening to the voices of the people. Perhaps a blog poll might enlighten the Government as to the opinions of the people”
As the prominent social activist, Marina Mahathir put it:
Sad, because the leadership that we have do not have the spine to stand up to minority interests. Sad, because our children are sacrificed because the BN wants to win one by-election.
When rural schools are not as well equipped as urban ones, is that not to be expected? If you look at performance overall, doesn't that hold true anyway? Why should English be made the excuse for unequal distribution of resources between rural and urban schools? Surely when you see poor results from rural schools, what needs to be done is to improve the teaching in those schools. Not reverse an entire policy and bring urban kids down along with everyone else.

posted by: Siti Nur Nadiah binti Zakaria ( A122987)

Introduction

Assalamualaikum
Firstly i want to introduce myself... My name is Emmy Satina binti Jusoh but just call me Emmy. I was born on 28th June 1988. I from Pengkalan Kubor Kelantan.My father work is labour and my mother is housewife.I love my parents...I have 10 siblings and i'm the sixth...I have 3 olders brothers and 3 youngest brothers,and i have 2 olders sisters and one youngest sister..I take course Malay Languages Studies in Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty..My hobbies is playing badminton and sleeping because the activities good for health...hehehe...:-)
My ambition is to be a inspector police...that's why i join SUKSIS UKM to strong physical and mentality...also to more alert about our situation and social problem that our country faces now...
My favourite food is my mother's cook and my favourite drink is lemon ace tea...i dont like to take carbonate drink...
I hope when i take the English for Social Sciences,i will be able to improve the control is the english language is to weak for me with this subject since the school more....
I hope Prof. Madya Dr. Thang Siew Ming can give sight to teaching me to overcome these weakness......thank you...^_^

hello...
My name is Surinah a/p Li. I came from Slim River, a small town in Perak. But now I continued my study an National University of Malaysia(UKM), a most popular university in Malaysia. I am proud to be a student in UKM. At UKM i studied a Antropology and Sociology courses in Social Science and Humanities faculyt.

I taked this coursed because I can learn more about culture of community especially the orang asli community liked me. I am a orang asli students from semai comunity. I proud to be orang asli because we have many benefit and facilities as a Bumiputra community. We get many facilities like in education, health and many others. I think they can helping the orang asli people to improve they self. But the most important things I hopes once day I will help my community to success in their life like other nation.


Other than that, I hope I can improve my english because I know i'm so weak in English Language especially to writing and speaking. I hope at the moment my english will be better. So, I must doing something to improving my english.

Introduction

Hello..my name is Siti Nur Nadiah binti Zakaria. My programmme is Malay Language Studies in School of Science social and Humanisme. I'm from Kota Bharu, Kelantan and now i'm stay at Burhanuddin Helmi's College.

My favourite food and drink are fried chicken and fresh orange. My hobby is surf internet and eating. My father's name is Zakaria bin Amri and mother's name is Zainab binti Hussin. I've seven siblings, 5 older sister, 1 brother and 1 youngest sister.

I hope i'll be learn more and more confident in english when i'm here, in english for science social set 19 with Prof.Dr.Thang Siew Ming. I also hope that my english level increase....

Now its my turn to introduce myself. My name is Ayuna bt Ahmad. I'm from Bagan Serai, Perak. I have six siblings and i'm number five. I have 1 eldest sister, three brothers and 1 youngest brother. Actually, i dont have any favourite food because i eat anything as long as "halal". ^_^.

In National University of Malaysia, I also take course Malay Language Studies same with Nadiah. In this classes, i take subject english for science social. I hope in this class, i'v learn more to improve my english with Prof.Dr.Thang Siew Ming guidance.^_^

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Siti Nur Nadiah binti Zakaria ( A122987)
Emmy Satina binti Jusoh ( A123306 )
Ayuna binti Ahmad ( A123566 )
Surinah a/p Li ( A122685 )