Dong Jiao Zhong (DJZ) has reiterated its demand for the government to abolish the use of English to teach Science and Mathematics in primary schools.

It said in a statement that the government should revert to its previous policy of teaching the subjects in Bahasa Malaysia or the pupil's mother tongue.

It also proposed that the time allotted for teaching English to be increased if the objective was to improve students' command of the language, Bernama reported.

These proposals were brought up during meetings with MCA and Gerakan leaders yesterday and last Friday. The meetings were called by the political parties to seek a consensus on the use of English to teach Mathematics and Science in Year 4 in Chinese primary schools next year.

The switch to using English to teach the two subjects began in all schools from primary one to three in 2003.

Improve teaching methods

The implementation in Chinese schools was based on a "2-4-3 formula" - two periods for English, four for Mathematics and three for Science in a week.

However, to date there has been no decision on the number of periods for the two subjects when the pupils enter Year 4 next year.

In the statement, the movement also stressed the need for the government to take steps to improve the English language teaching method and provide adequate and proper training for English language teachers.

It was also of the view that UPSR (Primary School Assessment Examination) Mathematics and Science papers in 2008 be set in Chinese for students from Chinese schools.

Dong Jiao Zong which comprises the Federation of Malaysian Chinese School Boards Associations (Dong Zong) and the Federation of Malaysian Chinese School Teachers Associations (Jiao Zong), has consistently opposed the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English since it was proposed two years ago.