(Petaling Jaya,
Sunday): MCA Secretary-General and former Cabinet Minister, Datuk
Dr. Ting Chew Peh is to be commended for his clear and unambiguous understanding
and admission that teaching science
and mathematics in English will change the nature and character of Chinese
primary schools.
Speaking
at the 49th MCA General Assembly yesterday,
Ting outlined two possible scenarios from the use of English to
teach science and mathematic in Chinese primary schools:
slight improvement
in the standard of English but sharp decline in the results for the two subjects
- the gain not worth the loss; or no improvement in
English standards but decline in the standards of mathematics and science – a
loss for all three subjects.
It is significant
that Ting, who is Chairman of the MCA Education Bureau, did not concede that
there could be any possibility for a third scenario from the change of medium of
instruction – the improvement in the academic standards for all three
subjects, mathematics, science and English!
The question all
the four MCA Ministers should answer is why they could not see the issue as
clearly as Ting. It is tragic that
Ministers or those who aspire to be Ministers, like Datuk Kerk Choo Ting, the
Gerakan Deputy President, wear blinkers so that they could not see what is so
obvious to ordinary laymen – that
the change in the medium of instruction in the use of English to teach
mathematics and science affects the nature and character of Chinese primary
schools.
This is why the
assurance repeated by the Prime
Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at the MCA General Assembly that there
will be no change in the character of Chinese primary schools had no meaning
when the government wants to replace the medium of instruction for mathematics
and science in the Chinese primary schools from Mandarin to English.
The four MCA Ministers should convey Ting’s clear understanding that the use of English
to teach mathematics and science will change the character of Chinese primary
schools to the Cabinet on Wednesday and formally ask the Cabinet to establish a
special task force comprising representatives from the Education Ministry,
interested political parties whether in government or opposition,
Dong Jiao Zong and other
educational/civic organisations to draw up a masterplan to raise the standards
of English in Chinese primary schools without jeopardising the character of
Chinese primary schools or the academic performance of the students in
mathematics and science.
(28/7/2002)