SHOULD MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE IN ENGLISH BE ABOLISHED?

Every year, we are constantly reminded of the debate on whether or not we should

retain the use of the English language as the medium of instruction for Science and

Mathematics. Under the current education system, the “Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains

dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris” (PPSMI) is the system where English will be the

medium of instruction for the two subjects. Just because we speak, more in English does not

mean that the integrity of Bahasa Malaysia is dashed. The fact that Tun Dr. Mahathir insisted

on implementing the English medium for Science and Mathematics proves that he recognizes

the importance of English in a scientific and borderless world. The world uses English as the

language of communication, business and many more. Tun Dr. Mahathir must have seen it fit

that we should follow suit in order to catch up with other developing nations. His vision is so

far that it is rather hard for us to be on par with his pace. Therefore, let the English medium

have more time before we decide whether to retain English as the medium of instruction.

Bear in mind that to revert to the Bahasa Malaysia medium would not only be expensive, but

the directly affected parties are the teachers and students. We should not abolish teaching

Mathematics and Science in English because performance indicators show that the policy has

been well received by the students, academic literature, scientific research reports are mostly

published in English, and the medium of instruction in most of institutions of higher learning

is in English.

The standard of English Language proficiency amongst Malaysians who have been

educated in the medium of Bahasa Malaysia has been a topic of debate since the 1980s.

Although, the Ministry of Education had launched a number of ELT programmes to raise the

standard of proficiency, these programmes appeared to have had a minimal effect on

standards of proficiency. Concern has been voiced over this issue throughout the 1990s

(Pillay, 1995). In the new millennium, the pressures of globalisation and the need to have a

work force that is competent in English to compete in the era of Science and Technology has

given this issue a new urgency and once again brought this issue to the forefront. On June 12,

2002, a dramatic shift in the Malaysian Educational Policy was announced. In the national

budget for 2003, the our fourth Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad announced that RM

5 billion would be allocated between 2002-2008, for the implementation of the policy to

teach Science and Mathematics in English. It marked a momentous turning point in the

country's education history. According to the Ministry of Education, government allocated

RM5 billion to implement the programme over the following five years. The RM400 million

that would be spent on support material and equipment went into laptops for teachers, LCD

projectors and software for schools to begin teaching Mathematics and Science in English.

Small schools and those without electricity were given generator sets and a 34-inch digital

television set in place of LCD projectors. Teachers were trained and given with some

courseware and guides. The Education Ministry also set up hotlines for queries. The teaching

of Mathematics and Science in English for Year One, Form One and Lower Six students

began on Jan 5, 2003.

First, performance indicators show that the policy has been well received by the

students. For example, according to News Straits Times (March 25, 2009) it was reported that

92.7 percent of 53,638 candidates who sat the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM)

examination last year opted to answer the Science and Mathematics papers in English.

Further, it was reported that 89.1 percent of 178,751 candidates who sat the Sijil Pelajaran

Malaysia (SPM) examination in 2008, answered fully in English. Students are allowed to

answer the Science and Mathematics paper in English or Bahasa Malaysia, or in both

languages. Therefore, students who are proficient in Bahasa Malaysia will not be at a
disadvantages and bilingualism will continue to be encouraged. Furthermore, in the Ujian

Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination, pupils had the option of answering the

Science and Mathematics papers in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese or Tamil, or a

combination of three languages. It was reported that the number of pupils who answered the

Science and Mathematics papers in English in UPSR exam last year had increased

tremendously. Compared with 2007, the figures were up by 200 times for Mathematics paper

and by 100 times for the Science paper. Nevertheless, teaching Mathematics and Science in

English has been well received by the students.

In addition, academic literature and scientific research reports are mostly published in

English. Students who learn Science and Mathematics subjects in English surely can explore

Science and Mathematics knowledge easily since scientists and researchers convey their

knowledge in English. Compared than before, students are not able to learn in English since

they were lack of English skill. Instead of they need someone to interpret the information or

knowledge in Malay. This condition will cultivate students and encourage them to master or

love Science and Mathematics subjects. Besides, when the students able to master these

subjects, they cannot be fool from anyone or foreigners. Other than this, this condition can

overcome the shortage textbook in Malay. Nowadays, Science and Mathematics knowledge

are important to develop our society successfully. Tun Dr. Mahathir (2008) has said that

“.......the knowledge is always updated by scientists and researchers to world society.” We can

turn make the words Malay as we have done with words from other languages but scientific

terms are hundreds and are the base for more words with different meanings. Take the word

oxygen as an example and its many derivatives in science. Saying that oxygen is just one of

118 elements, then if every term is made into a Malay word, then the language will switch to

be English with the same pronunciation but different spelling. So, it is not Bahasa Malaysia

anymore, both science and mathematics were not static subjects but expanded through time
with numerous research, inventions made through hundreds of research papers that would

need translators for Bahasa Malaysia.

Those who understood the subjects and could translate them would not be interested to be

translators their entire life, adding science would still progress after their deaths and newer

works would need translation. Without the ability to translate all these new knowledge,

Malaysia will be left behind in some of the most important fields. Thus, most of academic

literature and scientific research reports are published in English.

In most of institutions of higher learning, the medium of instruction is in English.

Getting yourselves familiarized with the teaching in the English language during primary and

secondary school years will facilitate your learning in tertiary levels. There will be no doubt

to find that you are not able to comprehend subjects that are taught in universities. If you

cannot understand the teaching in English, do not blame the language, but rather yourself,

because chances are that you have not grasped the fundamentals of the language. As we

know, mastering English language is one of precondition, which required by students to

further studies in universities level. The government only accepts students who are able to

learn and speak English well since all subjects are teaching in English for almost universities.

In universities, tutors can teach students easily using English language since they are already

have the basic in primary and secondary school, which is learning these subjects in English.

Not just that, Bakri Musa (2008) who is political analysis said that, students or graduates

could expand their educational opportunities with further their studies anywhere in the

English-Speaking world. Besides that, graduates can get a great demand within and outside of

any profession by having this skill. Another view, students can build confidence and have a

high confidence level to compete with others. The reason is the students had mastered the

English language since this language had been used in Science and Mathematics in school.

With this skill, students able to compete with others because have high confidence level.
Mastering English language can open the students’ mind in order to compete with others in

this century. Therefore, it is essential for students to learn Science and Mathematics in

English because English is medium of instruction in the most of institutions of higher.

In conclusion, teaching Mathematics and Science in English should not be abolish

because performance indicators show that the policy has been well received by the students,

academic literature, scientific research reports are mostly published in English, and the

medium of instruction in most of institutions of higher learning is in English. Students who

want to enter the universities have to know the basic skills of English because this language is

the medium of instruction in the universities. Almost academic literature, scientific research

reports are mostly published in English because researchers documented their studies in

English. The students are receiving the policy well can increase the examination’s

result.What we need is not the abolishing of the PPSMI. If students are finding it difficult to

cope with the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, then it is an obvious sign that

they have not gained the mastery of English. Abolishing the PPSMI is not going to help them

become more proficient in English; in fact, you are just running away from your problems. To

solve those problems, teachers must be more committed to teach the English language

properly in the same manner as Bahasa Melayu is being taught. Students must not shun away

from using the English language as one of their media of communication. To think of English

as the “conqueror’s language” is not only a short-sighted view, but a view which can cost you

a difference between a bleak and a bright future. It is important that we do not close all the

doors to future opportunities just because there is a history of hatred behind those doors.
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