The government has spent a total of RM3.2 billion over the past five years to carry out the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, Deputy Education Minister Razali Ismail told the Dewan Rakyat today.

english medium for maths and science education in chinese school Out of the amount, the government paid a whopping RM2.21 billion for the purchase of information and computer technology (ICT) equipments.

The rest of the expenditure went to the payment for educational incentives (RM638 million), teachers’ training (RM317 million) and ICT software (RM2.4 million).

The figures were revealed by Razali when replying to Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Taiping) who wanted to know the cost to implement the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English since 2003.

In a supplementary question, Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) trained his sights on the hefty sum used for the procurement of ICT equipment.

"The purpose of it (the amount spent) was not to educate, but to make a contract for cronies," claimed Azmin, who wanted to know which company was awarded the contract to supply the equipment.

The deputy minister however did not respond.

Mixed response from parents

At a press conference later, Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein who was asked on the matter could not provide the name of the company which was given the project.

"I’ll give the (names) when I get them," he told reporters.

hishamuddin hussein On the effectiveness of the policy, Hishammuddin said he has been getting mixed responses from parents in urban and rural areas.

"But at the end of the day, I feel that it revolves around the fear that it will affect the (usage of) Malay language (in schools)," he said, adding that vernacular schools have also rejected the policy.

Teaching Science and Maths in English was the brainchild of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to improve students proficiency in the language.

The policy was implemented in all national schools but an alternative formula was reached for the vernacular Chinese schools as a compromise after strong protests from the community.