Dr M: Get over your nationalistic pride, accept English
PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has urged Malaysians to overcome their nationalistic pride and accept the teaching of science and mathematics in English.
"A nation where the people are adamant to preserve their mother tongue and if we lack knowledge, then the country will not progress," he told Dewan Rakyat during Minister's Question Time today...
PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has urged Malaysians to overcome their nationalistic pride and accept the teaching of science and mathematics in English.
"A nation where the people are adamant to preserve their mother tongue - if they lack the knowledge, then the country will not progress," he told Dewan Rakyat during Minister's Question Time today.
Mahathir said science, mathematics, information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI) were pioneered and explored in the English language.
Those who are not fluent in English will have difficulties in mastering knowledge or translate them into the national language, he added.
He said the search for new knowledge, namely on AI, will push Malaysia into becoming a developed nation.
Mahathir, whose government is mulling whether to reintroduce the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI), was offering his view on the matter.
"On the reintroducing of PPSMI, the Education Ministry is studying in-depth on the matter by preparing a new system of teaching (science and mathematics in English) with lessons recorded by the best teachers, replicated in every school via information technology.
“In this way, all the students will achieve an almost similar outcome.
"There are many who want science and mathematics to be taught in English while others are adamant that it must continue to be taught in Malay,” he said.
The National Education Advisory Council has given its view on PPSMI, Mahathir said.
Mahathir introduced the policy in 2003 in his previous tenure as prime minister, but it was rolled back in 2012 due to protest from the civil society and political parties.
In April, Mahathir said the government had reintroduced PPSMI without announcing it.
He was referring to the "dual language programme" (DLP) which was introduced in 2016.
At present, about 1,300 schools nationwide have adopted the DLP programme, where the subjects of science and mathematics are conducted in English.
Education Minister Maszlee Malik was quoted as saying in June that the government had no plan to revive PPSMI.
On June 20, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the cabinet discussed on PPSMI but no decision was made.
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