No directive to muzzle PTAs, says Wee
By Adib Zalkapli
KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 - Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong has denied that the ministry has directed Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) not to discuss matters opposing education policies.
"This is a non-issue, after all we want to improve the performance of the schools, so I don't see any problem," Wee told reporters in Parliament today.
"If they have some good suggestions, they want to put forward to the ministry they are welcomed," he added.
However, Wee said, opposition to the government policies should not lead to any working problem with the ministry.
"Their role is to complement what the schools have been doing. I think if they want to do extra activities to improve the [education] of the students, I think by all means they can do it," said Wee.
"I do not think all these while they have been talking about things that are out of the policies," he added.
The Kuala Lumpur Education Department director Mohd Adenan Deraman had reportedly warned school principals to ensure that PTA meetings do not discuss matters that oppose its policies.
“This is a message from the ministry. PTA meetings should not be used as a platform to discuss matters opposing the government’s policies,” Adenan reportedly said.
Adenan added that the ministry had received information that the Teaching of Science and Maths in English (better known as PPSMI) policy is part of the PTA meetings’ agenda in several schools, adding it should not be discussed as the Cabinet had made its decision on the matter.
The cabinet had in July last year approved the Education Ministry’s proposal to abolish PPSMI, reverting to Bahasa Malaysia and vernacular languages in phases, effective 2012.
With this policy in place national schools will return to teaching science and mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia, while Chinese and Tamil schools will employ their respective vernacular languages.
The change, however, will not include matriculation, Form Six and university levels.
The government will also recruit an additional 13,933 English teachers in addition to the current force of 19,433 English teachers.
MAGPIE'S MESSAGE
Dear Concerned Citizens of this country,
On Wednesday 8 July 2009, The Star Newspaper Reported that:
The Cabinet has decided that the medium of instruction for Maths and Science will revert to Bahasa Malaysia in national schools and mother-tongue languages in national-type schools from 2012 onwards.
The reversal of the Teaching of Math and Science in English (PPSMI) policy will be done in stages, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said on Wednesday.
Beginning 2012, students in Year One and Year Four in primary schools, and Form One and Form Four in secondary schools, will learn Math and Science in Bahasa Malaysia.
The change will not affect those in Form Six and Matriculation.
COMMENT:
By the way, since the above report , the reversal has been fast- tracked to start in 2011 instead of 2012.
One just wonders if the reversal was made solely by considering the welfare of the students and the country at large or due to another reason/s known best to the policy makers.
As our beloved Prime Minister had said it again on 31 Mar 2010, " THE ERA OF THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS BEST IS OVER".
So much has been said that teaching science & maths in English improves the usage of the language, gives students an early exposure to the key terms & tools necessary to plug into the unfolding potential in this area. with our Prime Minister's Slogan " RAKYAT DIDAHULUKAN, PENCAPAIAN DIUTAMAKAN" the Government will listen to us if all of us are willing to stand out and be heard.
MAGPiE IS ACTIVELY PURSUING THIS MATTER & HAS TAKEN STEPS:
1. WORKED WITH THE PTA’S , PARENTS & STUDENTS OF SUPPORTING SCHOOLS ON A SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN- WHERE 15000 SIGNATURES WERE COLLECTED;
2. PARENTS WILL PUT FORWARD A RESOLUTION AT THEIR COMING PIBG AGMS TO RETAIN PPSMI IN THEIR SCHOOLS;
3. GAVE COPIES OF OUR MEMORANDUM TO THE MALACCA MP.S & THE CHIEF MINISTER OF MALACCA.
4. GAVE A MEMORANDUM TO THE PM ON 19/1/2011 FOR THE OPTION TO USE PPSMI IN PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS IN MCCA.
PLEASE LET US JOIN FORCES IN EVERY STATE AS ONE VOICE TO MAKE THIS A REALITY !
IF NOT US, THEN WHO?
IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN?
TOGETHER WE SHALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!
CHAIRMAN
MAGPIE
On Wednesday 8 July 2009, The Star Newspaper Reported that:
The Cabinet has decided that the medium of instruction for Maths and Science will revert to Bahasa Malaysia in national schools and mother-tongue languages in national-type schools from 2012 onwards.
The reversal of the Teaching of Math and Science in English (PPSMI) policy will be done in stages, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said on Wednesday.
Beginning 2012, students in Year One and Year Four in primary schools, and Form One and Form Four in secondary schools, will learn Math and Science in Bahasa Malaysia.
The change will not affect those in Form Six and Matriculation.
COMMENT:
By the way, since the above report , the reversal has been fast- tracked to start in 2011 instead of 2012.
One just wonders if the reversal was made solely by considering the welfare of the students and the country at large or due to another reason/s known best to the policy makers.
As our beloved Prime Minister had said it again on 31 Mar 2010, " THE ERA OF THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS BEST IS OVER".
So much has been said that teaching science & maths in English improves the usage of the language, gives students an early exposure to the key terms & tools necessary to plug into the unfolding potential in this area. with our Prime Minister's Slogan " RAKYAT DIDAHULUKAN, PENCAPAIAN DIUTAMAKAN" the Government will listen to us if all of us are willing to stand out and be heard.
MAGPiE IS ACTIVELY PURSUING THIS MATTER & HAS TAKEN STEPS:
1. WORKED WITH THE PTA’S , PARENTS & STUDENTS OF SUPPORTING SCHOOLS ON A SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN- WHERE 15000 SIGNATURES WERE COLLECTED;
2. PARENTS WILL PUT FORWARD A RESOLUTION AT THEIR COMING PIBG AGMS TO RETAIN PPSMI IN THEIR SCHOOLS;
3. GAVE COPIES OF OUR MEMORANDUM TO THE MALACCA MP.S & THE CHIEF MINISTER OF MALACCA.
4. GAVE A MEMORANDUM TO THE PM ON 19/1/2011 FOR THE OPTION TO USE PPSMI IN PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS IN MCCA.
PLEASE LET US JOIN FORCES IN EVERY STATE AS ONE VOICE TO MAKE THIS A REALITY !
IF NOT US, THEN WHO?
IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN?
TOGETHER WE SHALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!
CHAIRMAN
MAGPIE
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its good to hear that the education ministry is open to suggestions. Parents , teachers, lecturers, this is our opportunity to state our stand & convince the govt. that the exemption may do some good for the nation.
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