The United Chinese School Teachers Association of Malaysia (Jiao Zong) is set to raise issues of mother-tongue education with Prime Minister Ahmad Badawi as soon as it completes a memorandum.

Among the list of issues will be a proposed review of the use of English to teach science and mathematics in primary schools, said Jiao Zong president Ong Kow Ee, who spoke to reporters at the association's headquarters in Kajang today.

"We (Chinese education groups) are preparing the memorandum. Jiao Zong had done a survey on the language-switch policy and now is in the process of analysing the findings. It will be submitted to the prime minister. If we cannot meet him, we will submit the report," Ong said.

Jiao Zong together with the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) - collectively known as Dong Jiao Zong (DJZ) - have been urging the government to review the language-switch policy.

They want the government to intensify English lessons in schools; review the negative effects of the language-switch policy; and revert to teaching science and mathematics in the mother tongue. They also want all political parties and interest groups to support mother-tongue education.

Ong stressed that matters pertaining to Chinese education are just as important as any other issues, and this is why the association has asked for a meeting with Abdullah, just as MCA recently did.

Last week, MCA president Ong Ka Ting led a delegation from the Malaysian Chinese Economic Consultative Council to meet Abdullah and submit a memorandum on the nation's economy.

"The council met with the prime minister on the issues of economy. The same arrangement should be made for other issues such as culture and education, especially Chinese education, to reflect the community's views on cultural, education and social problems," Ong explained.

While he said MCA intervention would be a "good thing", he said the party has not arranged any meeting between the premier and Jiao Zong.

Asked whether the SRJK(C) Damansara issue would be raised as well, he said it would "probably be included in the memorandum ... we cannot avoid discussing it".

The school has been at the centre of a relocation controversy for several years, with no resolution in sight. A small number of students are still being taught at the original site from makeshift premises, as their parents have refused to move them to the new premises.