The problem with the Teaching of Maths and Science in English (PPSMI) is still brought to the centre whenever someone influential raises it up. Since its inception in 2002 and eventual cancellation in 2009, many organisations and individuals have stood up to object against the policy or support it. This policy had a big impact on students, teacher, parents, administrator and policy makers.

Many student organisation such as the National Association of Islamic Students Malaysia (PKPIM) had been in contact with students who had been effected by this policy in their curriculum and the teachers who were implementing the policy in the classroom.

It is no secret that the ministry was not ready to implement this policy because students and teachers themselves were not ready, that is the main reason why PPSMI was cancelled and being replaced with the Upholding Bahasa Malaysia and Strengthening English programme (MBMMBI).

Then, why are there still voices demanding a return to this policy? Even worse, some of them even suggested to revert back some of the school to teach all subjects only in English instead of Bahasa Melayu that is become a national policy nowadays. This suggestion is making our Malaysian society even more divided than it already is.

We must remember that the reason to implement PPSMI was to enhance the performance of English either in speaking or writing. The ministry thought that by teaching Science and Mathematics in English, then the students fluency in English will increase.

They thought wrong and their wrongness had been highlighted by many academician in the field of language and education. Many NGOs that engaged with civil society also know that this policy is problematic and pressured the government to drop it.

The policy not only effecting the English language subject, but also in the subjects of Science and Mathematics. Many students lost interest in the subject they didn’t understand, others lost respect for their teachers who themselves cannot speak English properly. But still, the fluency in English that was expected to materialised had yet to be achieved.

Instead of stressing to learn Science and Mathematics in English, why not strive to improve our own English learning? If the problem is in English education, solve it properly by making sure the teacher reaches a high standard in education. Always making sure they are equipped with good facilities to help them educate students. Students themselves must always be nurtured to love the English language, not to view it as a hard subject that is only being taken to pass SPM.

Giving the wrong medication to the wrong disease will make a patient even more sick. That is what was happening when PPSMI was still in implementation. English is seen as a burden and an enemy to the student. Learning a language should be voluntary and not forced. Lots of improvement can be made if we focus on how to teach instead of continuing debating this polemic. Everybody knows only a few people are still demanding this policy.

The reason their voices is being heard is because they have influence. The voices of the majority should be respected which is to respect Bahasa Melayu as a language of communication in our education. At the same time, we demand that the way of teaching English should be more on making student like the language instead of just trying to get A in the subject.