news feature

The controversy over the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English seems to have ended yesterday following a "political decision", in Education Minister Musa Mohamed's words, made by the Barisan Nasional supreme council.

Front-page headlines on Chinese newspapers this morning happily shouted that the two subjects for Year One in Chinese primary schools will continue to be taught in mother tongue.

This interpretation will certainly find favour with the Chinese-based parties in Barisan Nasional since it is an acknowledgment of a 'victory' they have scored for the community they represent.

The 'compromise' reached by BN, however, came at the expense of the seven-year-olds who will be starting Chinese primary schools next year.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad recognised the increased workload and pressure on students when he was asked yesterday if the Malay community might ask for a bilingual approach to Maths and Science in response to the modifications allowed in Chinese schools.

"It depends on whether the Malay parents want to burden their children. If we add more things to what we already have, it may be too much for us to shoulder. That will cause losses to us," the Umno president had said.