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The debate on using English as a medium to teach Science and Mathematics has been on-going for quite a while. In fact it seems this issue has been dragging on with no concrete solution in sight. It is quite frustrating for us common rakyat seeing the power-brokers playing the “fickle-minded” game regarding this issue. The rakyat in majority can’t understand why this issue is so difficult to be settled once and for all. Let’s us dissect the issue in hand piece by piece.
English is the commonly used language in the world today. This is a fact that cannot be denied, period. Whether in business or academic, English still reigns supreme as an intermediary tool for communication. One must master the English language to move up in the world today. Just by this fact alone, the use of English to teach the related subjects is clearly justified. In fact, to go further, other subjects should also be considered to be taught in English if applicable. From here on, comes the argument that puts English as a medium in the bad light. For some patriotic reasons, the Bahasa Malaysia should be used instead since it is the national language. Besides, by using English will put the rural folks at a disadvantaged position since they are not proficient enough to master the language and compete with their fellow counterparts living in the cities. Are these arguments justifiable?
Firstly, the Bahasa Malaysia is our national language and this is written in the constitution. Its position will always be intact and never challenged. But on hindsight, not to sound too unpatriotic, how many people in the world today actually use Bahasa Malaysia? Frankly apart from Malaysians, no other nationalities use it. Bear in mind that the world is moving into globalization and how are we Malaysians suppose to compete if we do not master the most commonly used language, English? Continuing from this point, regarding the rural folks will be at a disadvantage to compete with the city folks, is it only important for them to compete against fellow Malaysians living in the cities? If this is the case, then we Malaysians will be competing against Malaysians only. This world is a bigger place with thousands of other nationalities. If the benchmark is lowered just because of satisfying a certain segment of people while putting the entire population at risk of not being able to compete globally in future, will that be acceptable? This might sound cruel to the disadvantaged but for the sake of the nation’s future, there should be some sort of priorities to be straightened out here. Besides, there is always the first time. If the usage of English continues to be delayed, until when would be the best time to start then?
The problem anticipated is actually not for the future but it is clearly happening now at this very moment! Graduates being chided by multinational companies of not being able to communicate efficiently in English, while some to the extent of not being able to construct a proper sentence even. The latest finding by the Ministry of Education proven this fact since English grammar is not being taught and it is not compulsory to pass the English paper anymore in major exams. Is this what the government plans to project Malaysia in future? A nation with substandard English-speaking citizens?
Most of us rakyat clearly feels that this issue is more political in essence. Other than that we could not see how using English will be an issue. In addition, most politicians send their children overseas to boarding schools and universities. If they are really sincere in promoting education in Bahasa Malaysia, they should refrain from sending their children overseas. Hang on, is this an elaborate scheme to keep the ruling elites forever in power while the rest wither in ignorance and conformity? Hopefully not. God bless our intellect.
English is the commonly used language in the world today. This is a fact that cannot be denied, period. Whether in business or academic, English still reigns supreme as an intermediary tool for communication. One must master the English language to move up in the world today. Just by this fact alone, the use of English to teach the related subjects is clearly justified. In fact, to go further, other subjects should also be considered to be taught in English if applicable. From here on, comes the argument that puts English as a medium in the bad light. For some patriotic reasons, the Bahasa Malaysia should be used instead since it is the national language. Besides, by using English will put the rural folks at a disadvantaged position since they are not proficient enough to master the language and compete with their fellow counterparts living in the cities. Are these arguments justifiable?
Firstly, the Bahasa Malaysia is our national language and this is written in the constitution. Its position will always be intact and never challenged. But on hindsight, not to sound too unpatriotic, how many people in the world today actually use Bahasa Malaysia? Frankly apart from Malaysians, no other nationalities use it. Bear in mind that the world is moving into globalization and how are we Malaysians suppose to compete if we do not master the most commonly used language, English? Continuing from this point, regarding the rural folks will be at a disadvantage to compete with the city folks, is it only important for them to compete against fellow Malaysians living in the cities? If this is the case, then we Malaysians will be competing against Malaysians only. This world is a bigger place with thousands of other nationalities. If the benchmark is lowered just because of satisfying a certain segment of people while putting the entire population at risk of not being able to compete globally in future, will that be acceptable? This might sound cruel to the disadvantaged but for the sake of the nation’s future, there should be some sort of priorities to be straightened out here. Besides, there is always the first time. If the usage of English continues to be delayed, until when would be the best time to start then?
The problem anticipated is actually not for the future but it is clearly happening now at this very moment! Graduates being chided by multinational companies of not being able to communicate efficiently in English, while some to the extent of not being able to construct a proper sentence even. The latest finding by the Ministry of Education proven this fact since English grammar is not being taught and it is not compulsory to pass the English paper anymore in major exams. Is this what the government plans to project Malaysia in future? A nation with substandard English-speaking citizens?
Most of us rakyat clearly feels that this issue is more political in essence. Other than that we could not see how using English will be an issue. In addition, most politicians send their children overseas to boarding schools and universities. If they are really sincere in promoting education in Bahasa Malaysia, they should refrain from sending their children overseas. Hang on, is this an elaborate scheme to keep the ruling elites forever in power while the rest wither in ignorance and conformity? Hopefully not. God bless our intellect.
