Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today dismissed a threat by an influential education group to hold a massive street protest if the government continues with its policy of teaching Science and Maths in English.

umno 62 anniversary 110508 hishammuddin "It doesn't matter, whether a demonstration or riot, it is something common. What they do is meaningless because the ministry has showed its seriousness by having the roundtable meeting and invited the interested groups (to come together).

"If Dong Jiao Zong (DJZ) wants to have a demonstration, it is up to them because the policy is for the future of our children based on facts and figures," he told reporters.

Hishammuddin was met by reporters after launching a book compiling Malaysia’s old documents and agreements at the Parliament lobby this morning

He was asked to comment on the ultimatum issued by DJZ earlier this week. The movement is urging the government to reverse the language-switch policy that was implemented since 2003 amid strong objections.

The ultimatum was given ahead of the Education Ministry’s fifth roundtable meeting on Dec 16, when a final decision on the policy is expected to be reached.

Why DJZ is upset

The influential DJZ is the umbrella body for the United Chinese Schools Committee Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) and the United Chinese School Teachers Association of Malaysia (Jiao Zong)

On Monday, Jiao Zong president Ong Chiow Chuen told Malaysiakini that the education group wants the mother-tongue language to be used in the teaching of Science and Maths in all vernacular primary schools starting next year.

Failing this, he said, DJZ will join forces with other vernacular education groups and Chinese associations to initiate a massive nationwide protest.

DJZ argued that the academic results since the language-switch policy was implemented have shown that the policy does not help students improve their proficiency in English.

The campaign against the language switch is also supported by Tamil and Malay education groups, while Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman said previously that the policy has widened the divide between urban and rural schools, as well as affected the learning ability of Malay students.

At the recently-concluded PKR Youth congress, a resolution was passed describing the teaching of Science and Maths in English as a “betrayal of the position of Bahasa Melayu as the national language”.

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 vernacular Chinese schools as a compromise after strong protests from the community.

Critics have claimed that the policy was introduced as part of the government’s plan to phase out vernacular schools.

The Education Ministry has maintained that the students have benefitted from the policy.

According to figures revealed in Parliament in May, a total of RM3.2 billion has been spent over the past five years in carrying out the teaching of Science and Maths in English, with a large portion being spent on the purchase of ICT equipment.