After long years of colonization by the British, short occupation by the Japanese and later by the British again, Malaysia (formerly known as Malaya and The Malay Peninsular back then) had suffered much in searching for her own true identity. The Brits had left us with nothing (all the worthy commodities were sucked out from the country) but only one useful asset, which is the ability to communicate in English. My grandfather, being a former British Army stationed in Singapore, could speak and write in good English. He is definitely among thousands of other British-educated citizens who are currently in their golden period of age. If you did not believe me, try ask your grandparents. In the 1950's and the 1960's, even the uneducated population could speak good English.
Then, came the time where politicians (mostly British-educated) whose in the name of independence pioneered Nationalism, which in time declare the Bahasa Melayu as our national language. Time flies by and the millenium brings along a new age where undisputedly, English is the current lingua franca. Tun Mahathir, being a progressive leader differ from the previous, then introduce the English for Science and Mathematics Policy (PPSMI), with aims to foster greater understanding towards the language of science and technology and prepare our new generation to compete in the borderless world. What he might not see at that time is that, if the teaching of the English language itself is not efficient (some teachers still teach English by using Bahasa Melayu), how could Malaysian students master Science and Mathematics in English?? And the recognizable effects from all these is that most of Malaysian nowadays, can't even speak properly in both; either Bahasa Melayu or English. Some experts in education even say that by letting a student to master the English language (without having to be specifically associated with Science and Mathematics) is enough to make the student understand any kind of knowledge and information; mostly available in English nowadays.
I believe that the fact that many Malaysian aren't happy with the implementation of the English for Science and Mathematics policy is mostly due to our refusal to embrace the language and would rather stick to our own comfort zone. If no suppressions were received by the Malays during the series of invasion by foreign powers (the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British, the Japanese), Malaysia could possibly still remain as only some clusters of fishing settlements administered by extremely wealthy feudals or landlords. Malaysians especially the Malays really just love to stay in their own comfort zone.
A move to revoke this policy by responding to pressures by certain quarters would just be another episode of flip-flopping. If we end up changing our education system every 5 years or so, we don't even give it a chance to bear fruits. None of us now could say that this PPSMI is a bad thing, because the current batch of students are still undergoing changes. The result could only be seen when they graduated from the university and enter the job market 10 years from now.
I foresee this implementation of PPSMI as a fair ground for all Malaysian. The Malays, the Chinese and the Indians, each will face their own difficulties to adapt in these time of changes. The policymakers should ensure that this policy will make way toward success. We could not turn back time to make a new beginning, but we could always determine a better ending. And now, the decision is in our hands, the time when you have to ask "Excuse me Sir, what should i do with this?..how am i going to deal with that?..." to the pointed-nose white men sitting behind a large oak desk had long gone...wake up Malaysians!!!Its time to write our own history...
Then, came the time where politicians (mostly British-educated) whose in the name of independence pioneered Nationalism, which in time declare the Bahasa Melayu as our national language. Time flies by and the millenium brings along a new age where undisputedly, English is the current lingua franca. Tun Mahathir, being a progressive leader differ from the previous, then introduce the English for Science and Mathematics Policy (PPSMI), with aims to foster greater understanding towards the language of science and technology and prepare our new generation to compete in the borderless world. What he might not see at that time is that, if the teaching of the English language itself is not efficient (some teachers still teach English by using Bahasa Melayu), how could Malaysian students master Science and Mathematics in English?? And the recognizable effects from all these is that most of Malaysian nowadays, can't even speak properly in both; either Bahasa Melayu or English. Some experts in education even say that by letting a student to master the English language (without having to be specifically associated with Science and Mathematics) is enough to make the student understand any kind of knowledge and information; mostly available in English nowadays.
I believe that the fact that many Malaysian aren't happy with the implementation of the English for Science and Mathematics policy is mostly due to our refusal to embrace the language and would rather stick to our own comfort zone. If no suppressions were received by the Malays during the series of invasion by foreign powers (the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British, the Japanese), Malaysia could possibly still remain as only some clusters of fishing settlements administered by extremely wealthy feudals or landlords. Malaysians especially the Malays really just love to stay in their own comfort zone.
A move to revoke this policy by responding to pressures by certain quarters would just be another episode of flip-flopping. If we end up changing our education system every 5 years or so, we don't even give it a chance to bear fruits. None of us now could say that this PPSMI is a bad thing, because the current batch of students are still undergoing changes. The result could only be seen when they graduated from the university and enter the job market 10 years from now.
I foresee this implementation of PPSMI as a fair ground for all Malaysian. The Malays, the Chinese and the Indians, each will face their own difficulties to adapt in these time of changes. The policymakers should ensure that this policy will make way toward success. We could not turn back time to make a new beginning, but we could always determine a better ending. And now, the decision is in our hands, the time when you have to ask "Excuse me Sir, what should i do with this?..how am i going to deal with that?..." to the pointed-nose white men sitting behind a large oak desk had long gone...wake up Malaysians!!!Its time to write our own history...
4 comments:
Hi!This is the first time I visit your blog and I liked very much the current dissertation.Certanly I will visit it more times!Have a nice day!
i agree with u kojeque...but ade pulak manusia yg ckp golongan yang nak teruskn PPSMI ni celaka...
http://www.harakahdaily.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19545&Itemid=1
Allah suruh hambaNya menuntut ilmu...tp ade org suke2 nak ckp celaka...melayu mmg suke duduk di zon selesa sendiri...xsuke sesuatu yg ganggu keselesaan tu...biarla diorg terjun dgn labu2 diorg...huhuh...
I am agree with you based on these arguments:
1. English should be the medium for both Sci and Math in Malaysia because Dewan Bahasa has lost its function in recent years. The publications suck, foreign journals translating jobs are rare, let alone expanding the vocabs specifically for Sci and Math in Bahasa Melayu.
2. On arguments comparing the situation with Germany and Japan, whose both countries stand proud of using their native tongue on all basis, it is very clear that their language enrichment works proactively. They have wide vocabularies range covering all aspect in Sci and Math, plus their advancement in Sci and Math itself has made both countries leads the world in that field. Thus, all the sources (like journals etc.) are all written in their language and other country have to find their own translation to connect them to the knowledge.
So if they say the issue is regarding Bahasa Melayu, I believe the responsibility should be in DBP hands, not the Sci and Math issue.
I believe firmly that we are on the right track. Don't ruin it. But being Malay, I feel terribly sorry that the negative values rule our gene. But it does not mean we're bad and anti-modernization then. If Malacca was once our pride, it is not impossible that the history will be repeated. Only time will tell.
Horita, F.K.: Thank you! Please do drop by regularly...Have a nice day too!!
Pn. Aleya: Agreed. But people tend to be a little sensitive especially with ongoing erosions towards the existence of the Bahasa Melayu itself. We have scholars and renowned specialists on these, they should be the one who take the helm and repair the messes...
Fidanuar:Agreed. In my opinion, in order to make this PPSMI successful; students should not being taught directly in English for Sci and Math since Year One of their primary school. Instead, there should be an introduction class as a preparation for them; maybe via a subject called 'English for Sci and Math'. Through this subject, students could be introduced to the terms, and basic of the English in utilization to learn Sci and Math bilingually (English and Malay). Only after a few years of training that they learn the Math and Sci 100% in English. Only by this method that no students will be left out in the rain..or drain...
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