NOTA UNTUK PM DARI BLOGGERS PRO UMNO!

NOTA UNTUK PM DARI BLOGGERS PRO UMNO!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Make teaching of English a national mission

DESPITE the Government’s new policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in Bahasa Malay-sia, it is nevertheless giving a lot of push and thrust to improve English teaching methods and standards. But sadly, at school level, it is not being followed and implemented.

My daughter studies in a secondary school popularly known as SMKDPT Masai, a premier school where all the 5As, 6As and 7As students from the nearby primary schools are placed.

Being a premier school and having all the top students from the schools around this area, the school has to set a high standard of teaching in English, but it is not so.

The teachers, including the Guru Besar, do not utter a single word in English even to a person like me who does not know Bahasa Malaysia. I am an Indian expatriate.

In India, I completed Standard 1 to Higher Secondary (here it is called STPM) in Tamil. But our English language syllabus was so strong, with two papers, one specifically in gram-mar.

Due to the strength of the Eng-lish language syllabus and the tea-ching methods employed, I could easily acquire proficiency in Eng-lish when I reached engineering college.

Governments may come out with a good education policy, but the success of the policy depends on the implementation at grassroots, largely on the Gurus Besar.

If the Government really wants to improve the standard of English, the Gurus Besar have to be trained first and they will automatically lead the team of teachers under them to the successful implementation of government policy.

But to cover up their weakness, or lack of affinity or proficiency in English, these teachers simply put the blame on the children from the rural or poor families.

I am from a poor family in a rural area, my mother is illiterate and my father a Physical Education teacher who cannot speak English.

How could I acquire proficiency in English? It was because of the teachers.

The Gurus Besar of all schools in Malaysia can do well to look at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has a good command of English despite being from a rural family. He mesmerised the Europeans and Ameri-cans when introducing the Multi-media Super Corridor.

If a person is good in communication skills, he/she is already 50% successful in his/her career. In this aspect, I am saddened whenever I interview Malaysian engineering graduates for industrial training or for a job.

They are good and intelligent in their Engineering subjects, but they cannot express and explain due to lack of proficiency in English. When they write a report, it confuses; I do not know whether he/she is explaining yesterday’s or today’s or tomorrow’s event as there is no grammar in their writing. How can these engineers submit a research paper in an international forum?

All Gurus Besar have to take up the development of English language skills among their students as a national mission.

In India, in order of respect, we place Guru (Teacher) one place above God and just two places below Matha (Mother) and Pitha (Father). God only creates human beings, but the Guru moulds the human being into a good human being.

S.J.B. JAWAHAR,
Pasir Gudang, Johor.

Opinion, The Star, 30th March 2011

2 comments:

  1. Tun Mahathir had introduce the teaching of Math and Sain in English known as PPSMI it was a good start for the student to study this two subject but since it was being policise the goverment has to go back to old concept of teaching in Bahasa.Why did the Kementerian Pendidikan ask the opinion of parent association (PIBG ) or to the student themself , I am very sure most of the parent and student is infavour of these subject in English . Look at the result of SPM 2010 it is the best result in 4 years. I think the goverment is wasting alot of money in books , sending teachers for traininig giving allowance for teachers and buying of labtop and projector . Why did the Education ministry introduce school with teaching PPSMI and those without PPSMI , I am sure majority of the parent will send their children to school with PPSMI . Our Govertment is trying to upgrade the standard of education in Malaysia but there is some irresponsible people trying to politicise this . I am confident the Goverment will win with 2/3 majority in this general election and hope the goverment will think over and intrduce this PPSMI again for the good of our student and for our country .

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bro/Sis Anon. BN must win big in Sarawak first. Then crucify Pakatan Rakyat in the 13th General Election.

    ReplyDelete

Say whatever that is on your mind. Heck! This is a free country after all. If the racists Chinese can swear at the Malays as much as they want, we can do that as well.

However, I will not be held responsible to whatever that you have to say. The comment is solely the private opinion of the author.