While two Chinese groups have met Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Monday over the thorny policy to teach Mathematics and Science in English, a crucial player in the education scene has yet to be given such a hearing.

When contacted today, influential Chinese education movement Dong Jiao Zong today said it would welcome any opportunity to give its feedback on the issue to the premier.

Mahathir's meeting this week with the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) and the Federation of Seven Clans and Associations, has defused tensions somewhat on the issue.

In the pipeline is a meeting with the Federation of Chinese Assembly Halls (Hua Zong) of which Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (SCAH) is a member.

SCAH and Dong Jiao Zong were branded "extremist" by Mahathir following their vocal opposition to the language switch affecting schools of all media, and both primary and secondary levels.

Organisations representing other ethnic groups had also protested against the move, but somehow escaped the premier's labeling.

Substantial role

Dong Jiao Zong is the collective name for United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) and United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong).

Jiao Zong vice-chairperson Dr Yap Sin Tian said that, Dong Jiao Zong has not received any invitation from the prime minister's office for a meeting with him.

"We are open to everyone. We welcome everyone who wants to meet us and discuss the issue with us, whether they are from the Barisan Nasional or opposition parties," he said.

"But, to meet the prime minister, it is not up to us to decide," Yap added.

Yap hoped that the prime minister could give Dong Jiao Zong due consideration "because of the substantial role our group has played in representing the education interests of the Chinese community".

"This will be a good chance for us to put forward our stand and reasons face to face; it is not only Dong Jiao Zong's views but that of the Chinese community as well," he added.

On Aug 1, more than 50 Chinese associations had concluded at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur to maintain their common stand that the mother tongue is the best medium of instruction as endorsed by the United Nations and in accordance with common practice worldwide.

While these groups acknowledged the importance of mastering English and agreed with the government's effort, they argued that teaching Science and Mathematics in that language will not improve proficiency in all the subjects involved.

Road shows

In a related development, the Nanyang Siang Pau reported today that, the Education Ministry has set up a 15-member working committee led by its director-general Abdul Rafie Mahat to launch a road show in eight states in the country.

The road show will brief primary and secondary schools teachers, including those in vernacular schools, on the new syllabus, teaching methods and how to use the multimedia equipment when the language switch is implemented next year.

Abdul Rafie said the road shows were to help teachers prepare for the imminent switch. The eight states to be covered are Kedah, Perak, Penang, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, Selangor and Johor.