Friday, November 15, 2013

The Teaching Of Science And Mathematics In English: Mahathir, You Are 22 Plus Years Too Late Too Late!

Mahathir is at it again, calling for science and mathematics to be taught again in English in the schools.

His passion for the cause seems to be strong.

Admirable?

We wonder what he had been doing in his 22 long years as the Pm, when he wielded all the powers and everyone was practically pooing in their pants at the mere sight of the great man's shadow.

If he was that intense then, he could have easily seen to it by making it into law that the two subjects be taught in English.

Insisting now for the subjects to be taught again in English when he no longer holds the shots and any remaining cachet as an ex premier he still possesses is fast fading, is not ingenious.

The Umno and Najib led government is unlikely to heed his call. Not that Malaysians generally don't agree with Mahathir on the subject of teaching science and mathematics in English.

Most of us concerned souls, including the enlightened Malay parents, want the two subjects to be taught in English.

They believe that the two subjects being taught in English will help the students in their further studies, as most scientific reference materials, research papers and books are written in English, and also help them later on in their work and be more competitive in an increasingly globalised world.

At the same time, the teaching of the two subjects in English will also help in improving the students' current lamentable mastery of the English language.

In fact, since the change from English medium schools to the Malay medium schools, our students' command of the English language has become a standing joke.

Our graduates find difficulty in securing jobs in the private sector where their poor command of English is a handicap. So, most of them either have to find a job as a civil servant, in an already bloated civil service, or they languish in unemployment for months.

The more enterprising and daring among them may find their way to start a small business or enterprise. But these are the exceptions.

Will the Najib administration revert to the teaching of science and mathematics in English?

This seems hardly likely.

The official sound bites don't seem encouraging, because there aren't any to speak of, in the first place, that give any hope of a reversion to English as the medium of instruction for the two subjects.

And it is not hard to fathom why positive sound bites aren't forthcoming.

Vested interests dictate that you don't throw away the tools that have all along helped you to stay in power by playing the racial card.

You make yourselves the ostentatious champions of language and race, even if the sum result is that by doing so, you might destroy the nation or its prospects.

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Kluang's Little Bangsar

Kluang's Little Bangsar
Click To Visit

Kamini's Indian Wedding - Click To Visit

Kamini's Indian Wedding - Click To Visit
I attended my neighbour's daughter's Indian wedding dinner at the Sentul HGH Convention Centre. Click for a peek

Yasmin Ahmad - Click To Visit

Yasmin Ahmad - Click To Visit
Yasmin Ahmad was arguably Malaysia's best story-teller, filmmaker and advertiser. She was well known for her Petronas commercials and had won numerous international awards including the Golden Lion award for the 'Tan Ming Hong In Love' commercial. Her feature film Sepet not only garnered her several international awards including for Best Asian Film but also drew multi-racial audiences that rarely happens for a local film.

Genting Highlands - Click To Visit

Genting Highlands - Click To Visit
Genting Highlands Is A Popular Retreat With A Casino

Batu Caves - Click To Visit

Batu Caves - Click To Visit
Malaysia's Famous Landmark. Note The Statue Of Lord Muruga And The 272 Steps To The Temple Cave In The Background

Petronas Twin Towers And KLCC Park - Click To Visit

Petronas Twin Towers And KLCC Park - Click To Visit
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Some Early Morning Views Of KL City Skyline - Click To Visit

Some Early Morning Views Of KL City Skyline - Click To Visit
Some early morning views of the KL city sykline I took from the 3rd floor of the KL Court with a low-pixel hand-phone camera

Kluang Town - Click To Visit

Kluang Town - Click To Visit
Kluang was a sleepy hollow, but is fast becoming a bustling town. You can't miss the bust-shaped gunung Lambak lording over the place and the town is well known for its tv brand coffee powder

Kluang RailCoffee

Kluang RailCoffee
The Kluang railway station coffee shop, now re-branded Kluang RailCoffee, is well known for its cuppa of coffee and the charcaol grilled piping hot buns oozing with butter and kaya...It used to attract standing-room only crowds. It still does, but the last time I was there it wasn't a good experience for me. The famous coffee had somewhat lost its oomph and even the buns...The shop has a long and noted history being first opened for business in 1938 and the place is now run by the 3rd generation LIm family. I hope the next time I return, the coffee would regain its oomph. Click to read more...