#503 PPSMI again

“It was already decided by the Cabinet back in 2009, after many levels of discussion, was passed in Parliament and even the opposition supported it. There was no negative reaction back then, I don’t know why it’s being brought up.

“Maybe they (PAGE) ketinggalan zaman (behind the times.) The government will not bow down to the demands of small groups like this,” Muhyiddin said today, in reference to demands made by the pro-English lobby group earlier this week.

- Malaysian Insider, 03/11/11

I don't know whether Muhyiddin is oblivious, or he is just plain stupid. Immediately after they announced the doing away of PPSMI, the opposition to that decision was fierce. Even Mahathir did a poll which showed that 84% of the people wanted PPSMI to continue.

He also states, "Some people can push and demand all they want, we are a democracy, but the government’s decision is final". I don't know what form of democracy is that, where the government makes all the decisions while ignoring the voice of the people who vote them in.

Last but not least, the stupidest statement ever.

“The question is whether the best way to learn English is to learn English in maths and science or to bring in master teachers to help our teachers improve their proficiency?"

I question this. Was the PPSMI's main goal ever to help students learn English? If so, why wasn't the English language subject done away with in the past 8 years? And if it was the main goal, then I question the previous administration's thinking. But no.

Here's what the PPSMI was made for.

In conclusion, the policy decision to implement PPSMI was made to ensure students’ mastery in science and mathematics in view of the fact that most of the sources are available in the English language. Indirectly, it is also hoped that the implementation of PPSMI would contribute to the enhancing of students’ command of the language.

The main goal is to help students compete internationally in the science and maths field. And we all know that no one internationally publishes their journals in BM. Why? Simply because no one outside Malaysia uses BM. The issue of PPSMI degrading BM does not arise at all. No one ever complained about the other subjects being taught in BM. History can be taught in BM as most of the Malaysian history sources are in BM.

But unfortunately, Muhyiddin and friends fail to see the bigger picture. I bet they're taking a huge chunk of money out of the textbook printers' profit from this reversal.

But that's just my opinion.