We call on the Malaysian Government to table a report in Parliament on the teaching of English in primary, secondary and tertiary education including Mathematics and Science.

Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong on the public concern about the teaching of English, Maths and Science in Malaysia.

In the last three years, the Government has introduced the teaching of Maths and Science in English in all streams of primary schools, including the 2-4-3 formula for Chinese and Tamil schools. The public are watching. The Government insists that everything is running smoothly. But, this matter is complicated. How many of the over three million pupils can adapt to the new policy? The Malay society have yet to show confidence in it. The Chinese suspect the effectiveness of formula 2-4-3.

We hope that the Government present a detailed report on the matter in the Third Meeting, Second Session of the 11th Parliament, starting on 19 September, 2005. Having mastered their mother-tongue, Malaysians would like to know the standard of English at all levels of education.

The public are worried about the number of competent English teachers and lecturers. When Maths and Science were taught in Mandarin, there were more than 90% passes among pupils in Chinese schools. How do they perform under the
new formula?

By the time they enrol at universities, students must be proficient in Bahasa Malaysia (BM). The 18 public universities in the country should use more English including in Maths and Science. Some still use BM. For the past three years, students in Sixth Form study Maths and Science in English. Entering universities, some find that the two subjects are still in BM; they are perlexed. What is the state of English in our universities? Is it consistent with the policy?