As the debate over the imminent switch to English to teach Science and Mathematics in national schools continues, it appears that the Education Ministry is ill prepared for it. That is, if the training of teachers to teach the language in the two subjects is anything to go by.

Malaysiakini learnt today that at present, the ministry's Specialist Teachers' Training Institute does not cater to teachers seeking additional courses to prepare for teaching the two subjects in the English language.

Several trainers would be brought in from other countries, including the United States, to instruct teachers' trainers starting September.

According to Pan Sze Kim, a representative from the institute's Science and Mathematics department, courses for teachers' trainers lasting six weeks have been planned to commence in September.

However, it is uncertain how many courses have been planned in total and how many teachers' trainers are participating in the courses.

Pan also said the institute currently conducts English-medium courses for teachers who will be teaching Science and Technology in secondary schools.

20 people for a course

Meanwhile, the British Council said today that about 150 officers from the Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) have been attending language courses organised by the council.

"There are eight courses in total and each course caters to about 20 people," its English Language Services Projects Manager Mina Patel told malaysiakini .

However, Mina described the week-long workshops as intensive language courses and not programmes specifically tailored to instruct teachers on teaching Science and Maths in English.

She said the general language courses were attended by CDC officers, including administrators, curriculum developers, directors, as well as several teachers.

"Some of them are also master trainers for Science and Maths," she said when met at the British Council office in Kuala Lumpur.

She said the course did not include specific instruction on Science and Mathematics terminology but added that this may have been touched upon when course attendants request for such information.

Intensive language course

In an interview with The Star yesterday, British High Commissioner to Malaysia Bruce Cleghorn said the British Council is working on several programmes to help implement the policy shift to teach the two subjects in English.

However, Mina said that aside from the intensive language course, no other courses have been requested by the Education Ministry to re-train teachers.

Asked how long a course dealing specifically with instruction on terminology should take, Mina declined to comment apart from saying that this would depend on the proficiency of individual teachers.

She expressed optimism that the ministry would be able to implement the plan to teach the two subjects in the English language effectively starting next year.

"Just because they are not doing [more courses] with the British Council, it does not mean they are not doing anything," she said.

Mina also said a seminar will be organised by the British Council to present local officials with various teaching materials available in the United Kingdom.

UK volunteers

Meanwhile, the CDC also announced other initiatives to improve English language skills among students including a volunteer placement programme for schools with large numbers of students with weak command of the language.

According to new information posted on the CDC website , volunteers for the UK-based GAP Programme may be posted for five or six months at schools where they will assist teachers in teaching the English language.

"They can be expected [to give] 10 to 15 lessons per week in the classroom, hold conversation classes and give tuition to groups and individuals formally and informally outside the classroom," said the GAP Programme guidelines.

The guidelines also noted that the volunteers are school leavers with no formal training but are selected based on their command of written and spoken English.

Also published on the CDC website is the new syllabus for English-medium Science and Technology studies for secondary schools. However, a check revealed that the curriculum for Science and Mathematics teaching in English for primary schools is yet to be published.

A separate CDC website on the implementation of the new policy has been set up for teachers to share their opinions and for the ministry to obtain feedback.

According to a poll carried out on the website, sixty percent of the respondents would like to have training on verbal and writing skills in English. Sixty people participated in the poll.

However, CDC officials could not be reached for comment.

Starting next year, English-medium instruction in Science and Maths will be introduced in all national schools for pupils enrolled in Standard One, Remove, Form One and Lower Six levels.

The move is in line with the government's aim to check the decline in English proficiency among Malaysian students.

Various quarters, mainly vernacualr educationists, have opposed the move.