Sarawak To Learn Maths and Science in English From Next Year

Mostly the schools in Sarawak teach in local language in today’s time. But the world is growing and so are the kids around the globe. The Education, Science and Technological Research Minister, Datuk Seri Michael Manyin said that Sarawak will start teaching subjects Mathematics and Science in English language for Year One students from the next year.

This initiative will involve 1,046 primary schools statewide, except for Chinese-medium schools that anyway prefer to continue teaching both subjects in Mandarin for now. A total of 2,657 Year One teachers will have training to teach both subjects in English, comprising 1,005 Science teachers, 1,275 Mathematics teachers and 377 teachers of both subjects. Datuk Manyin also said the federal Education Ministry will soon share a training module for the teachers, which should be ready by the end of August. He also said to the reporters on 29 May that "We cannot be too ambitious, so we will start with Year One." As per the plan the cost will be around RM9 M to train the teachers and print the materials, for the first year. He said he himself will go to Kuala Lumpur to make costing arrangements from the Federal Government. However the Chief Minister is also prepared to help, he further added. He said textbooks for both subjects would be printed by the state, based on the Dual Language Programme (DLP) textbooks. The parents and community leaders are also in support. According to Datuk, this idea came from the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who also came in support and said that this is good for Sarawak, good for our future and good for their children. On April 24, during a courtesy call with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik had conveyed the Prime Minister's request for Sarawak to take the lead in teaching Mathematics and Science in English. Manyin said that the district education offices would arrange for discussions with any parents or community leaders who had their queries and doubts about the programme. Also, he said that so far mostly there has been a positive response from parents on this initiative and he did not anticipate many objections to it. He said that many parents responded to this idea of teaching Maths and Science in English to their children with eagerness and said that they have been waiting for too long. Datuk said "We are not going to make any U-turn. We are going to start the implementation of using English as a medium of instruction for Maths and Science next year.”

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/05/29/year-one-pupils-in-swak-to-learn-maths-and-science-in-english-next-year/