PPSMI - The Damage Has Already Been Done

The issue has been debated, discussed and talked about in all media for quite some time. Some are against the programme while others are for it. Whatever it is the students are the ones who will be facing the consequences.
Those who are for it says:-
  • The future of the younger generation is at stake. The medium of instruction in English is the way forward.
  • It would affect those teachers earning RM300 per month teaching English after school.
  • The present system had been proven to be good in enabling pupils from the rural schools to master English.
  • It is proven by the UPSR, PMR and SPM results.
  • It cannot be seen that the system can affect Bahasa Malaysia as the national language.
  • Master English and thrive.
  • Bahasa Malaysia is not capable of explaining some of the terms in these two subjects.
  • English the better language.
  • PPSMI can produce competitive individuals.
Let's look at it issue by issue:-
  • The future of the younger generation is at stake? What does that mean? Are our younger generation going to suffer if PPSMI is abolished. Are they going to be failures in life? How many of us from the generation when both the subjects were taught in Bahasa Malaysia are failures. Most of us are successful in the field of science.
  • English is the way forward. In other words Bahasa Malaysia is moving backwards. Are we trying to say that we will not be successful for as long as we are learning both the subjects in Bahasa Malaysia.
  • What has earning extra income through special allowance given by the ministry got to do with the success of PPSMI? Just to make sure that the teachers get extra income PPSMI should not be stopped? For all we know those teacher may not be teaching the subjects effectively. The allowance should be used to improve their language proficiency by going to classes but instead it is not so.
  • What is the result of English language obtained by the rural students? Is it above 70%. If yes, how many students are involved.
  • The UPSR, PMR and SPM results for both the subjects is said to be improving and good. Lets compare the results with those obtained in the school assessments. There's a lot of difference. What is the passing level set by the Examination syndicate? 40%, 30% or maybe 25%. Nobody knows because it has never been exposed to the public. So, can the results be used as prove of success. Bare in mind that both the papers offered in the examinations are bilingual. Why must it be bilingual? Students learn the subjects in English but the exam papers are bilingual. So a student may answer the questions in English by referring the the mother tongue to understand the question. The papers were supposed to be 100% in English last year but due to protest by almost everybody it is kept bilingual. Why protest if English is better? What are they afraid of? That many will fail the subjects?
  • What is the status of Bahasa Malaysia in Sekolah Kebangsaan now? The only subjects taught in Bahasa Malaysia in primary schools are Music, Art and Craft, Physical Education, Agama Islam, Kajian Tempatan and Civics. These subjects does not encourage language proficiency. It is not the same in the SRJK schools where both the subjects are taught in both English and their mother tongue.
  • Master English and thrive. What has got that to do with PPSMI. If PPSMI is for the purpose of mastering English than something is wrong some where. What has got science and maths got to do with mastering English?
  • Bahasa Malaysia is not capable of explaining some of the terms in both the subjects. Never thought that my mother tongue is that bad and inferior so much so that it is not able to explain certain terms. We have got Linguist and experts in Bahasa Melayu. What are they doing about it? Has there been any effort by anybody to sit and translate as many books as possible to Bahasa Malaysia. As far as I know nothing much is done. If there are efforts, then they are not aggressive enough.
  • English is the better language. If so we should have followed Singapore by making English Language our national language. We should have made English Language the medium of instruction in our national schools. Of course the SRJK's would not agree making English language as the medium of instruction in their schools.
  • Competitiveness has got nothing to do with PPSMI. The will to achieve excellence and success is the factor affecting competitiveness. Competitive individuals are those who have visions and dreams to be the best. Are we saying that students in other countries in Asia that are learning both the subjects in their mother tongue are not competitive individuals?
As most of my friends say " The damage is already been done. It will take years to rectify."

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