English or Bahasa Malaysia?

Mathematics and Science in BM or English? The dilemma starts again.

Few years back, Tun Dr Mahathir's decision to change Maths and Science to be thought in English stirred up debates from various parties. Then, slowly, the issue was quietened down. People forgot about it, and adjusted to the norm of Math and Science in English.

Lately, the suggestion of reversing the language of the subjects taught back to Bahasa Malaysia caused upheavals, yet again, from the public, and some ministers. The issue that has been swept under the carpet, was now brought up again.

The argument was that teachers are having a difficult time teaching the subjects and students in rural areas cannot cope with the subject as they are not fluent in English.


Now, this is my argument. Who are we trying to benefit?
The teachers or the students? If the teachers can't teach the subject in English, retrain them. It can be done. Changing the subjects back to Bahasa Malaysia (just because the teachers are whining that English is hard) would absolutely be spoiling the teachers. Mind you, our education system should not adjust towards achieving comfort for the teachers. It is the teachers who work for our government that should adjust to the system for the benefit of the students.

And don't tell me rubbish like its the students that can't cope. They have young minds. And young minds can be shaped. So what if you're from the kampung? Doesn't make you any different. Its not like you're born with a smaller brain or anything like that. They can do it. And oh yes, the government would be spoiling them too, if they change the subjects back to BM. If they don't learn English and English in Science and Math, when are they going to learn? Competitions in the job markets are very high now. No doubt it would be higher for the generations to come. Do we want to see children grow up and not able to move forward into the tertiary sector but stay planting paddy fields in the kampung? Changing the language back to BM would just be a detrimental to them, in the long run.

Not only Math and Science but also other subjects like Accounting, Economics, History, Geography, etc is to be switched to English language. English is an international language. They will thank the government for the implementing of English in their subjects when they adapt well studying abroad, or even courses studied in local colleges, that are in English; work in a well renowned international company or engage in trade and business with other countries, in the future.

No doubt, BM is important. Those who study in government schools study Bahasa for 11 years. Sometimes up to 3 to 4 periods a day. But there's a line between putting our national language first and allowing the country to progress. This line has been blurred long enough.

There is even concrete evidence stating that students prefer English in Science and Math. The SPM and STPM papers were prepared in both languages, BM and English. A whooping majority of students answered the papers in the latter, clearly stating which they preferred. So what is still there to be discussed about?

They always say that our children would shape our future. Well, in this case, the government's decision would shape our children's future, and that would shape our future.