Gerakan wants the government to listen to the people’s voice with regard to the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) issue in line with the “People First” spirit, said party deputy secretary-general Liang Teck Meng.
He said Gerakan’s stand on PPSMI was that it should be implemented in secondary schools while Science and Mathematics be taught using the mother tongue at the primary level.
“The factor of consideration to use English to teach Science and Mathematics is no longer about improving English, but to link secondary education with tertiary education,” he said in a statement issued here.
For example, he said, he learnt Science and Mathematics in Chinese in primary school and both subjects were taught in English when he was in higher secondary school.
“This system helped me a lot when I was pursuing my tertiary education overseas. We do not deny that there are many other methods to improve English, but we have to take the global environment factor into consideration,” he said.
Liang said it was undeniable that English was still the leading language in Science and Mathematics with most textbooks and reference books in the universities being in English.
“Besides, if Malaysia is serious about developing into a first-world nation, we will have to move forward in innovation and creativity. This will definitely involve using English if we are to cooperate with other countries in research and development,” he added.
– Bernama
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