Citizens of this country would have now watched the yo-yo performance the Education Ministry along with the government have been involved in. The PPSMI has been somewhat of a scandal which has been encircling the country, and especially the people involved in the Education System i.e students and teachers.
All these years, that is up till 2003 of course, Science and Maths, well all subjects rather, were thought in the National Language, which is Bahasa Malaysia/Melayu (even the name has been gone through a 'ding-dong' period, the last time I checked, its called Bahasa Malaysia). Well, only the only subject taught in English was erh.... oh yeah, English. In 2003, our famed former PM who hailed from Alor Setar, MrYouKnowWho, implemented the Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik Dalam Bahasa Inggeris, or better know as PPSMI. The PPSMI was introduced as a Malaysian Government policy as a result of a Cabinet meeting in July 2002, obviously, under the iron fist management of the man now known as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. "When proposing the policy, Tun Dr. Mahathir was in the opinion that Malaysia's progress is declining in the age of globalisation, and he had hoped that this policy gives a competitive edge to the nation, following the footsteps of Singapore and India which are moving forward because of their utilization of the English language."
Thus the Government took numerous steps to implement and try their best to improve the declining standards of language in the country, mainly English. It was a positive move as at that time, Malaysian graduates were extremely poor in English, and could not converse adequately, though on paper, most of them had fabulous results. Fast forward to 2009, and we have a DPM/Education Minister who is trying to be some kind of a peacock. Barely six years after its implementation, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the policy will be reversed in 2012.
This year, he said that there was no chance that a 're-reversal' would take place, going on further saying that the National Language needs to be strengthened. That meant that the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English would be conducted in Bahasa Malaysia again. No disrespect towards the National Language, I think it is great, but it is a case of taking one step forward and two steps back.
After all the yo-yo-ing that has taken place, Muhyiddin reversed his previously 'unreversible' stance and allowed students the option of continuing in English, but as with UMNO, there is always a catch. Students who will be in Year 2 next year, (all children born before and up until 2004) are the so-called lucky ones, ecaping the guillotine. Those after that, will have of course be taught Science and Mathematics, or rather 'akan diajar matapelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Malaysia'.
The question on many a mind would be 'Why has the Government changed their stanced?' HA HA. One of the reasons I can think of, or rather the main reason is none other than the upcoming GE. The targeted audience for this ploy is parents of children who are now in Year 1 up until Form 4 (as Form 5 students will not be under the Edu system next year bar students entering Form 6). That would amount to about 5 millions parents, and it could be a smart ploy to get votes. BUT, people have to realise that yes, your children may have been spared, but think of the coming generation.
The BIG PROBLEM with many people is the 'short-term' mindset that they possess. The country is not about the present, but of course the future. The young people who's children are still toddlers would all be caught in this, and it is no use of being somewhat selfish when it comes as a detriment to the country. Even in by-elections, the moment the GOV splashes the cash, be it a couple of hundred in Ringgit, or the infamous 'Election Budget' where civil servants are given bonuses of about RM 500 (I stand to be corrected), but if you look at the details as well as the bigger picture, RM 500 for 5 years? In the PPSMI case, your child is saved yes, but what about the others? We HAVE TO THINK LONG TERM.
A news related to this popped up yesterday when constitutional expert Abdul Aziz Bari said that the PPSMI is unconstitutional.
“(It is) for the simple reason that under Article 152 (of the federal
constitution), PPSMI is unconstitutional as official business must be
conducted in Malay as the national language.”
This is what people mean by clowns appearing after the ashes have vanished. In that case, I would advise Mr Aziz Bari to take a suit against the former PM, because he is trying to imply that he went against the Constitution by implementing the PPSMI.
People, please, wake up, and take a stand, before it is too late.
Jay Jay Denis.
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