By Karen Bong
KUCHING, August 13: Lack of training for teachers who teach Science and Mathematics in English under the Dual Language Programme (DLP) resulted in less than 50 per cent of the educators involved actually using the English language to teach.
Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong, in highlighting this, thus emphasised the need for teachers to get extensive training to teach the two subjects in English as the state prepares to roll out the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English to Year One pupils starting next year.
“The training for teachers to teach the two subjects in English will start next month (September),” he told a press conference after officiating at the 28th Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (Melta) International Conference 2019 at a hotel here.
Puan Besar Perak Darul Ridzuan Her Royal Highness Raja Nazhatul Shima Almarhum Sultan Idris A’fifullah Shah, Melta president Prof Ganakumaran Subramaniam Raja and Ministry of Education deputy director-general Dato Sulaiman Wak were present.
The allocation for the teachers’ training course, he added, has been approved and readied by the state cabinet while the officers from the Ministry of Education were also ready.
Over 2,600 teachers have been identified to teach the two subjects in English as the medium of intruction at some 1,260 primary schools across the state.
In response to a question, Manyin reiterated that Sarawak was ready to roll out the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English to Year One pupils starting next year.
“The English module for the two subjects has already been developed which is now being printed in Peninsular Malaysia. The materials for learning and teaching have been finalised. We (Sarawak government) will bear the cost,” he said.
“So we are quite confident of the implementation early next year,” he emphasised.
However, Manyin pointed out that the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English for Year One pupils was not an education policy but a programme like the Dual Languages Programme (DLP) which some schools in Sarawak have adopted.
“If one parent objects, the programme cannot be implemented for that particular school.
“And the Chinese schools have opted out of this programme as they are not keen at this stage,” he added.
The Sarawak government, he reiterated, did not hesitate to take up the challenge proposed by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as conveyed by Minister of Education Dr Maszlee Malik during a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg in April this year.
On the Sarawak government’s stand on the khat or jawi writing issue, Manyin pointed out that it was better for Abang Johari to comment on this matter.
“Maybe the federal Ministry of Education can comment but let the Chief Minister make his comment. It is too big for me,” he said. — DayakDaily
