The Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) today unveiled the full range of hi-tech equipment that has been distributed to teachers and schools to complement the teaching of Maths and Science in English in all schools starting next Monday.

Teachers teaching the subjects have been provided with notebook computers and specifically tailored teaching software.

Other equipment distributed to the schools include LCD projectors, projection screens, speaker sets, custom-built trolleys for storage to be used during lessons for Maths, Science and English.

"All schools have received the equipment for the implementation of the new education policy in 2003," said CDC director Dr Sharifah Maimunah Syed Zin during a press introduction session in Kuala Lumpur.

The CDC is the branch of the Education Ministry which is responsible for developing national school curriculum in line with the National Education Policy.

The department has been charged with selecting and developing suitable teaching materials for the implementation of the language switch for Standard One, Form One, Matriculation and Lower Six students.

Generators and televisions

The short-notice implementation of the language switch had earlier raised concern among teachers and vernacular educationists over the availability of materials and whether schools without electricity supply will be able to benefit from the use of electronic teaching materials.

Sharifah said the ministry has provided generators and televisions for small schools and those without electricity .

"Televisions have been given to some small schools in lieu of LCD projectors. This is because the generator sets they are given may not give out a consistent power supply so they cannot use LCDs," explained her deputy Dr Rohani Abdul Hamid who was also present.

Furthermore, Rohani added that the materials in the teaching software was not exclusive but rather to complement other teaching materials such as textbooks and worksheets prepared by the ministry.

"The teacher is in control of the software in the classes. It allows a lot of interaction between teachers and students," she said.

Asked if the new teaching method has been tested with students, Sharifah said only teachers have been introduced to the materials so far.

She did not elaborate on the reasons for the lack of a try-out period, beyond saying the situation is "unusual".

Training for teachers

On the training aspect, Rohani said teachers involved in the implementation of the language switch have been sent for three courses an English proficiency course, a courseware (software) course and a hardware course.

"Teachers are taught how to use the courseware and they are shown how to handle the hardware," she added..

Meanwhile, CDC officer Ho Heng Ling said the software that have been distributed to schools were only the first of a series planned for the entire school year.

"This is only the first release. We are working on other sets so that we will have a complete set of courseware (for the full school year)," she said, adding that another four or five CD sets may be released during the course of the year.

The purpose behind the language switch is to arrest the declining English standards among students.

The move courted controversy when certain quarters, especially vernacular educationist, opposed it.

They argued that learning the two technical subjects in English would not increase proficiency in the language.