Barisan Nasional (BN) parliamentarians are of the opinion that more time is needed to gauge the effectiveness of the use of English to teach Science and Mathematics.

They were asked to comment on a call made at the Second Malay Education Congress last weekend which, among others, urged the government to return to the policy of using the national language as the medium of instruction for both subjects.

"The call is too premature...the policy should be given a chance. You can't expect to see results within 24 hours. An ideal period would be to give five to six years for implementation, " said Idris Haron (BN-Tangga Batu).

"We should not fall for the syndrome of paralysis before analysis."

He suggested that a "more lenient assessment" should be practised for both subjects while the government should enhance facilities to assist the relevant teachers.

'No time to look back'

Raja Ahmad Zainudin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) agreed, saying this is no time for anyone to be looking back.

"It is not a time for a review. We should focus on changing the weaknesses because the system is good enough...it is just the approach that needs to be amended," he said.

The Larut MP suggested both subjects be taught in English as well as Bahasa Malaysia so that the students can master the knowledge first.

The much-disputed policy was implemented since 2003 in all primary schools despite strong protests by education groups who feared the move would usurp the role of vernacular schools.

However, Chinese primary schools were given an alternative - to teach these subjects in English in addition to classes being conducted in mother tongue as a "compromise" between BN and its Chinese-based parties which had initially opposed the move.

Wong Nai Chee (BN-Kota Melaka) and Lau Yen Peng (BN-Puchong) said the implementation should be studied and more feedback gathered before any review is done.
Said Lau: "In implementing any national policy, particularly an education-related policy, you won't see the results within two to three years."

Wong urged groups who have called for the review to back their calls with facts and figures so they do not "jump to conclusions too quickly".

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas, who is People's Progressive Party president, declined to state his stand apart from saying that there is an urgent need to improve the standard of English among Malaysian students.

More options

Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) welcomed the call to review the policy, saying the government should expedite the process.

"The policy was strongly opposed at the start, but due to the insistence of (former premier) Dr Mahathir Mohamad, all the dissenting voices were silenced," she said.

"After two years, we now realise this kind of teaching method is not practical and the ones most victimised are the students," she said.

Sharing her experience, Kok said she learned the two subjects in English when she studied in a Chinese independent secondary school. She found this method effective because students already had basic knowledge of Science and Mathematics.

Another opposition MP, Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam), said schools should offer students an option to either learn the subjects in two languages or in English alone.

"One size does not fit all. We have to look at the first language of the students and let them choose...this would make the learning process effective," she said.

Chong, a former teacher, also took a swipe at BN leaders who said any review can only be done later.

"I must remind them the policy was made in a rushed manner. Now, ironically, they say there is no rush for a review," she said.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said at the congress that the government was studying the effects of the policy to determine whether the less satisfactory performance of students now is a temporary phenomenon or more than that.

He noted that the government would need empirical evidence before making any decision.

"Give us time to study this in more detail. I also accept the criticism of the congress (against making) ad hoc decisions. So to resolve whatever problem, don't decide in an ad hoc manner," Najib was quoted as saying.

The government had allocated RM5 billion to be spent over a period of seven years for the implementation of the language switch when the policy was announced in 2003.