PPSMI became history

Addressing fears and concerns of parents
With the announcement of the reversal of the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (PPSMI), The Star received numerous queries on various aspects of the new policy. Below, Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom provides answers to these questions.

> By increasing the number of periods of English, does this mean school hours will be longer? Or will the time-table be restructured to reduce the time for some subjects?
The increase in the number of periods for English Language classes will not affect school hours. The time-table will be restructured whereby some subjects will have fewer periods. However, the ministry is in the process of fine-tuning this with the involvement of all stake-holders.
> If a student is in Year One in 2010, this means he will be in Year Three in 2012. Will he study Maths and Science in Bahasa Malaysia when he is in Year Three (2012) or will he continue in English?
Students in Year Three (2012) will continue to learn Maths and Science in English. The implementation of the change will only involve students in Year Four.
> Will teachers start teaching certain Mathematics and Science terms in Bahasa from Year One next year so that once students are in Year Three in 2012, they are able to cope better?
Teachers may use Bahasa to introduce mathematical and scientific terms and may use both Bahasa and English in the teaching of both subjects.
> If a student starts Form 4 in 2012, he would have studied Maths and Science in English for nine years (six years at primary level and three years at secondary level). Does this mean he has to study Maths and Science for two years in Bahasa (in Forms 4 and 5), and revert to English for the two subjects when he is in Form 6/Matricula­tion?
Currently the decision stands as it is and students in Form 4 (2012) will learn Maths and Science in Bahasa. However, the Ministry will fine-tune the process to accommodate students in the transitional period.
> Can private schools which also follow the national school syllabus be given the flexibility to continue with English? Are international schools exempted from this new policy?
According to the Education Act (1996) Section 7 (Private Educational Institutions) Item 74, “A private educational institution providing primary education or secondary education or both shall comply with the requirements of the National Curriculum and shall prepare pupils for prescribed examinations.”
Therefore, private schools fall under this Act and the change in the medium of instruction in the teaching of Maths and Science will affect them. However, international schools do not come under this Act.
> Can parents with children at the private schools make the decision to continue with English?
No. If parents were to decide to put their children in private schools, they are to follow the national curriculum as stipulated under the Act.
> From this year until 2011, will public examinations such as the UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM continue in two languages, that is Bahasa and English, in national primary and secondary schools, and Chinese and Tamil for the respective vernacular schools?
The public examinations will continue to be bilingual until 2012 for SPM candidates and 2013 for UPSR and PMR candidates.
> How will the ministry monitor if teachers take matters into their own hands and decide to start teaching the two subjects in Bahasa from next year even though the PPSMI policy is still ongoing?
At present, an overwhelming number of teachers are taking matters into their own hands by teaching Maths and Science bilingually. From now until 2012, there is no change in the policy. Teachers are to teach in English and may use both languages (English and Bahasa) to teach the two subjects.
The ministry has various bodies such as the state and district education departments and the School Inspectorate to monitor programmes run by the ministry.
> From now till 2012, will the teaching of Maths and Science be in Bahasa and English, or mother tongue (Chinese and Tamil)?
Officially, the policy (PPSMI) continues up to 2012. Teachers are to teach in English and may use both languages (English and Bahasa) to teach the two subjects.
> From 2012 onwards, will the teaching of Maths and Science for all levels in national primary and secondary schools be in Bahasa, and in mother tongue for vernacular schools?
As it is, the change will take effect as mentioned in the decision (starting with Year One and Four and Form 1 and 4 in 2012). However, we will look at matters that arise to fine-tune the changes.