Think of pupils future too, Chinese-based parties told

comments     Beh Lih Yi     Published     Updated

The Education Ministry today urged Chinese-based Barisan Nasional parties to consider the welfare of Chinese school pupils and teachers before making any proposals regarding the move to teach Science and Mathematics in English.

"These are the things that we have to consider, don't think about your opinions only, have to think generally, including (from the angle of) students and teachers," Deputy Education Minister Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

The deputy minister was reacting to a question on whether the Chinese-based parties' proposal to have these classes after school hours or on Saturdays would affect the welfare of students and teachers.

The four parties MCA, Gerakan, Sarawak United People's Party and the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) made the proposal in the hope of retaining the use of mother tongue to teach both the subjects in Chinese primary schools.

The government had decided this year, following a suggestion from Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, that Standard One, Form One and Lower Six students in all schools will learn the two subjects in English beginning next year.

The policy, which aimed to arrest the decline of students' proficiency in the English language, met with strong objections from various quarters, especially vernacular education movements.

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