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The cabinet will soon make a decision on the teaching of Maths and Science in English.
MCA and Gerakan from the beginning were not in favour of teaching of Maths and Science in English.
On the other hand, MIC had supported the teaching of Maths and Science in English as it will increase the proficiency of students in the language. Students from Tamil schools had always had to adjust to learning of Maths and Science from Tamil to Bahasa Malaysia before the policy was implemented. With the use of English for Maths and Science for both primary and secondary level students, the issue of adjustment for Tamil School students was somewhat reduced.
MIC had always believed, and it is also the opinion of this scribe, that the use of English for Maths and Science in English will go a long way in helping students in their tertiary education where most of the research materials are in English. The importance of a good command of English cannot be understated and its continuous decline among our students had been alarming.
Therefore MIC welcomed the government's move to use English for teaching Maths and Science when it was introduced six years ago.
However, with the recent increase in calls to revert to the old system, the Education Ministery had called for feedbacks and held round-table discussions on the issue. YB Dato Seri Hishammuddin Hussein will be submitting a report on its finding to the cabinet for its deliberation.
Tamil school headmasters and parents during a round-table discussion organized by MIC had made it very clear that they are against teaching of Maths and Science in English. Despite MIC's own views on this issue, our cabinet representative, YB Dato Dr S Subramaniam has been instructed by MIC's Central Working Committee to convey their stand to the cabinet.
MIC President, YBhg Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu said although he believed that it was good for the students, especially in Tamil schools to master the English language, "but I have to listen and heed the views and wishes of the Tamil school headmasters and parents".
"They have a right to make their own decision. We can't impose on them our views. It is a matter that concerns their children and students. As such, we will abide to their request." he said.
Headmasters, teachers and parents of Tamil school students had taken a clear stand.
It will be interesting to hear the views of parents of children studying in Sekolah Kebangsaan. They have been silent on this issue. After all, the majority of Indian students are in Sekolah Kebangsaan.
What is your view?
Murugesan Sinnandavar
MCA and Gerakan from the beginning were not in favour of teaching of Maths and Science in English.
On the other hand, MIC had supported the teaching of Maths and Science in English as it will increase the proficiency of students in the language. Students from Tamil schools had always had to adjust to learning of Maths and Science from Tamil to Bahasa Malaysia before the policy was implemented. With the use of English for Maths and Science for both primary and secondary level students, the issue of adjustment for Tamil School students was somewhat reduced.
MIC had always believed, and it is also the opinion of this scribe, that the use of English for Maths and Science in English will go a long way in helping students in their tertiary education where most of the research materials are in English. The importance of a good command of English cannot be understated and its continuous decline among our students had been alarming.
Therefore MIC welcomed the government's move to use English for teaching Maths and Science when it was introduced six years ago.
However, with the recent increase in calls to revert to the old system, the Education Ministery had called for feedbacks and held round-table discussions on the issue. YB Dato Seri Hishammuddin Hussein will be submitting a report on its finding to the cabinet for its deliberation.
Tamil school headmasters and parents during a round-table discussion organized by MIC had made it very clear that they are against teaching of Maths and Science in English. Despite MIC's own views on this issue, our cabinet representative, YB Dato Dr S Subramaniam has been instructed by MIC's Central Working Committee to convey their stand to the cabinet.
MIC President, YBhg Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu said although he believed that it was good for the students, especially in Tamil schools to master the English language, "but I have to listen and heed the views and wishes of the Tamil school headmasters and parents".
"They have a right to make their own decision. We can't impose on them our views. It is a matter that concerns their children and students. As such, we will abide to their request." he said.
Headmasters, teachers and parents of Tamil school students had taken a clear stand.
It will be interesting to hear the views of parents of children studying in Sekolah Kebangsaan. They have been silent on this issue. After all, the majority of Indian students are in Sekolah Kebangsaan.
What is your view?
Murugesan Sinnandavar
7 comments:
It is great to focus on maths and English. Bottom line: we must understand how students think, and proceed from there. See "Teaching and Helping Students Think and Do Better" on amazon.
I support the MICs view that teaching of science and maths in english should be the way forward. It saddens me to note that the MIC has given in to the pressure from groups with vested interests which is not looking into the interests of the future generation.
As we all know maths and science are subjects which has been developed extensively in english. In this age of web browsing one needs only to google for any topic in maths or science and you will get excess to tons of information in english. Now if the future generation is not exposed to the subjects in english then they will be denied the access to these information and knowledge. Secondly one cannot master language through maths or science. These are technical subjects where leaning in english will give greater clarity and understanding as this is the original language of the source knowledge.In order to teach these subjects in tamil we need to first translate the subjects from english to tamil and then to teach and learn the translated version. Wouldn't it be better to use the primary source intead of the translated version.
In order to promote and preserve tamil language my suggestion is to introduce tamil literature and make tamil language or mandarin as a compulsory second language subject upto SPM.
By doing so we will produce a future generation who will be proficient in english, malay and tamil. That will support our future genaration to succeed in their journey in tertiary education. Today even local universities are compelling students to write their thesis for masters and doctorate in english. Infact many of our younger generation in universities from the tamil stream are struggling not because of their fault but they are the victim of our educational system. Lets not be responsible for causing a "handicapped" future generation.
I think leave it as it is. Either Tamil, Chinese or National school shall used their mother tongue or national language. I don't think our young generations will be able to master the language by just imposing the english as a medium of teaching for this two subjects. To master the language and to generate more knowledgeable, intellect and braod minded generations, I think we shall go back to the third option, "English School." Let the parents decide, which school they prefer. But definitely we don't have political guts to start-up the third options.
There should be collective support from all quarters in supporting and implementing English as a language / medium to teach Maths and Science.
To all the Nay-sayers, they are not looking at the big picture but a fragment of a narrow piece of it.
English is the business language of the world, in countries which once prides itself in only teaching in their own vernacular language e.g Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam etc are taking steps in ensuring the new generation are given the opportunity to learn English without loosing / neglecting their own mother tongue.
Looking at the world and the direction its going, our politicians in the past had made stupid policy like making Bahasa compulsory and relegating English to oblivion. This policy produced the majority who cant speak and read English efficiently.
We should encourage our people to learn English and encourage/assist those with short term views to give English a broader support for future benefit.
We should not be handicapped like the chauvinistic Malays, who are well known for their poor grasp of English among others like self reliability, self confidence, intellectuality etc.
Lets teach our people the skill to survive....and language is the most powerful tool in bringing people together.
Asha Iyengar
Good Day Sir
Just got back and the disturbing news....death of a suspect in police custody. Its time the culprits (the police) are dismissed and put away behind bars.
Its scary to think that these public servants are becoming racially inclined to target and kill Indians.
Whether the suspect is guilty or not..that will be for the courts to decide. Are the chauvinistic police becoming the judge, jurors and prosecutors?
Why allow these form three and five flunk outs and semi educated and let alone uncivilised people don the uniform and terrorise our indian community.
These dogs in uniforms are to be leashed or else all hell will break loose.
My anger is real! My sadness is real! My tears is real! My pride in my community is real!
Its high time we show the country that we are no push over or irrelevant....as we had proudly done so in the last election.
Lets probe those policemen and women. Those bribe taking dogs. Time is ticking for our ppl...it will blow if something is not done.
Thanks for the space and time.
Asha Iyengar
MIC's stand on the death of Kugen in police custody is clear and it is out in the papers. In fact YB Dato Devamany is now being investigated by the police for being part of the crowd that stormed the mortuary. We are fighting this.
Good day Mr Murugesan,
How come no new posts from you
Busy?
Hope to hear more from you soon
Regards
Muthu
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