Change of Language for Students

reIs my country the only country in the world that changes the language of learning Mathematics and Science subjects in schools?

It was taught in English in the early days, for example, my dad's era. By the time I started schooling, at age 7, all subjects were taught in Bahasa Malaysia, the national language except for English subject of course.

Six years ago, under the premiership of Tun Dr Mahathir, the government changed the language for the teaching of Mathematics and Science subjects only. Main reasons for the change was to improve the learning of the English language and that English language is the lingua franca for both of these subjects amongst Mathematicians and Scientists in the world. So be it.

Six years later today, my government thought it was unwise to do so and now they have reverted the situation. But it won't be implemented immediately as I'm sure school textbooks won't be ready for next year's new school term.

The government mentioned that both of the subjects will be taught in Bahasa Malaysia from year 2012.

I really pity those students out there. For they have learnt these two subjects in English for the last six years, now they have to unlearn what they have learnt in English terms and absorb new terms in Bahasa Malaysia.

Not that I'm against the Bahasa Malaysia language as I was taught in this language from Primary 1 all the way to Secondary 5.

Let's look at the following scenario:-
a) Students in Secondary 1 in year 2009 will still be taught in English for that two subjects till year 2011 where they will be in Secondary 3.

Come year 2012, both of these subjects will be taught in Bahasa Malaysia. Will the Secondary 4 students by then be able to catch up fast enough so that they will be ready for the SPM in the following year.

I guess this batch of students are still considered lucky.

b) Students in Secondary 2 in year 2009 will still be taught in English for that two subjects till year 2011 where they will be in Secondary 4.

In the year where they are supposed to sit for the public examination at the end of year 2012, both of these subjects will be taught in Bahasa Malaysia or in their mother tongues (Mandarin or Tamil). Will both of these subjects be examined in English or Bahasa Malaysia during the SPM examination? Will it affect alllllllllllllllllllllllllll the students?

This is the exam that will determine whether they'll be furthering their studies at STPM or local universities.

c) The same situation goes on for the Primary students who are in Primary 3 now. This batch of students will be sitting for the Primary 6 public examination in year 2012 and they'll be learning Maths and Science in Bahasa Malaysia for the first time and their exams will be in Bahasa Malaysia too.

Really sorry for the students who are in Secondary 2 this year as by year 2012, they won't have any past year exam papers to refer to (that is in the same language).

Teachers have been attending courses in English language so that they will know how to teach the students.

Students have been learning in English language and they are being tested.

All those textbooks printed in English language will have to be thrown away and more dump sites have to be located in preparation for millions of textbooks / workbooks / teaching materials.

Bravo!

Reading: Hard On The Kids - Malaysia Today
Tags: Mathematics, Science, English Language, Bahasa Malaysia, Primary School, Secondary School