Archive for the ‘English - Medium Schools’ Category
English – medium schools: They can give us a leg up.
Thursday, May 20th, 2010It is time to bring back English-medium schools.
I CAN’T understand why the government is reluctant to re-introduce English-medium schools and to have lectures in English in the public universities.
The majority of the people want this and have been asking for it for so long. What are we waiting for?
Malaysia lost the edge to its neighbours long ago, and now we are losing to almost all of the countries that used to be behind us in almost everything. The reason: the very poor standard of English of most of our people today.
Local graduates just cannot compete on the international front because of their serious handicap. Many multinationals here are unhappy that local employees, among them many local graduates, have a very poor command of both written and spoken English.
One has only to see the numerous mistakes in English used on public notice boards, at shopping malls and complexes, government departments, primary and secondary schools, books, newspapers, TV stations and radio stations to know that the language has deteriorated.
Even some of our very senior government servants, professionals in government service and the private sector are guilty of a poor command of the English language.
But the little that has been done has not improved the situation. Concerned Malaysians have untiringly made proposals and suggestions to the authorities about the need to remedy the situation, but to no avail.
The number of naysayers to the proposal to bring back English-medium schools is few. They are against it mainly for nationalistic reasons.
However, if the English language is re-introduced in all primary and secondary schools or even in universities, their interests will still be served and Bahasa Malaysia will not be neglected.
I am sure the government and the authorities concerned would not find it difficult to ensure that.
If one looks at the situation prior to the 1970’s, the majority of us attended English primary and secondary schools and many of us continued our studies either at local or foreign universities. Some went on to some of the top institutions in the world — which teach in English — and did very well. And our values are still intact.
Our culture and customs remain unchanged and our outlook as Malaysians, regardless of race, language and religion remains as expected of us.
Many, like me, did very well in both English and Bahasa Melayu before furthering our studies at colleges and universities. Many went on to have successful careers or businesses; many also found important jobs in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The whole world at that time recognised and acknowledged our ability.
The re-introduction of English in schools and universities will not only reduce, and in time close, the gap between us and our neighbours, it will make us more competitive and sought after.
As a result, there will be more development and growth and our economy will improve. Proficiency in the use of the English language will be the catalyst to achieve the targets stipulated in Vision 2020 and the New Economic Model.
by Hussaini Abdul Karim.


