MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik today gave his assurance that examination questions for Science and Mathematics in Chinese primary schools will be in the Chinese language.

Ling, who is also transport minister, said this during a two-hour meeting with 20 Chinese school headmasters led by the National Association of Chinese School Headmasters president Kang Siew Khoon at the Transport Ministry office in Putrajaya.

"The minister (Ling) said he fully agreed with our view that the examination papers for the two subjects should be in mother-tongue and mother-tongue o­nly.

"He also promised to make sure that this view will be respected by the Education Ministry," said Kang when contacted.

The headmaster welcomed the assurance from Ling, saying that this was necessary to ensure that the characteristics of vernacular schools were not altered.

He said Ling also promised to look into the shortage of teachers in Chinese primary schools and "work out something with the Education Ministry".

MCA vice-president and Human Resources Minister Dr Fong Chan o­nn was also present at the meeting.

Since January, vernacular primary schools have been teaching Science and Mathematics in English during school hours, in addition to the original classes conducted in mother tongue.

This was the result of a "compromise" between the Umno-led Barisan Nasional which wanted to switch the teaching medium for the two subjects to English in all schools and its Chinese-based parties that opposed the move.

In recent months, the Education Ministry has made contradictory remarks over the choice of language for the examinations, saying students can opt for whatever language they prefer o­n o­ne hand, while o­n the other, stressing that the use of mother-tongue is a must.

Students burdened

Several school headmasters were reportedly considering the possibility of setting questions for the forthcoming semester examinations in either English or both the languages.

However, Kang stressed that such a move will not o­nly create negative impacts o­n the long-term development of Chinese primary schools but also burden the students.

He said the present bi-lingual teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics was already a heavy burden o­n students.

"Since the implementation of the language switch, Standard o­ne students now have seven textbooks and exercise books in both English and Chinese for Science and Mathematics.

"The repetition of the same syllabuses in two languages is affecting the learning interests of students and making them feel bored," he said.

On Tuesday, MCA secretary-general and education bureau chief Dr Ting Chew Peh said any grievances and complaints regarding the language switch should be channelled to the Chinese-based parties in BN.

He said ministers from the parties could then raise the matter in cabinet or ask the Education Ministry to spell out clearly the details of the implementation of the switch in Chinese primary schools.

"We don't necessarily have to bring it for discussion in the BN supreme council first," he was quoted as saying by the Chinese dailies.