Intensify Training To Improve English Proficiency Of Teachers Putrajaya Told

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Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the government is taking the middle-road approach in the teaching of Science and Mathematics. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: The education ministry has been urged to intensify training and placement of teachers capable of teaching Science and Mathematics in English to ensure there is a sufficient number of them
This is necessary to meet the government’s policy of allowing the teaching of both subjects in English
National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Harry Tan Huat Hock said the number of teachers who are capable of teaching both subjects in English is limited nationwide
“Schools that offer dual language programme (DLP) need to be given due attention and the matter should not be left to the school management only
“The ministry also needs to ensure the principals can converse in English fluently so that they can run the programme smoothly,” he told Bernama
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced on Saturday that the government is taking the middle-road approach to the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English in schools but, at the same time, the teaching of both subjects in the national language will be continued
Mahathir said the approach would be implemented as there were many who supported the use of English to teach the subjects while others were against it
The DLP programme, implemented in national primary and secondary schools since 2016, allows selected schools to teach Science, Mathematics, Information Technology and Communications as well as Design Technology in English
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) Faculty of Human Development lecturer Saedah Siraj expressed concern over the proficiency of those who teach both subjects in English, saying it could cause confusion among students
“At the primary school level, teachers are still able to deliver in English despite the lack of English-proficient teachers. The problem will arise in the secondary school where English proficiency is necessary,” she said
Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (Melta) president Ganakumaran Subramaniam said bilingual instruction via DLP could be improved so that students could improve their language skills in both English and Bahasa Malaysia
“If the implementation of the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English or the national language becomes the choice of students and parents, then the decision of this bilingual classes should be determined by the school’s stakeholders,” he said
National Parent-Teacher Associations Consultative Council (PIBGN) president Associate Prof Mohd Ali Hassan hoped that the government would consider and refine the existing approach because it was feared it could affect the gap in knowledge acquisition
“Are there enough available teaching staff for the purpose and is there a guarantee that there will be healthy competition in those schools?” he asked. - FMT

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