Sunday February 1, 2009
More protests against policy to teach in English
By SARAH CHEW
KUALA LUMPUR: Momentum is picking up against the policy to teach and learn Science and Mathematics in English with political parties, non-governmental organisations and school associations joining the fray.
The Movement for the Abolition of Teaching and Learning Science and Maths in English, claiming the support of more than 50 organisations and bodies, is hoping to gather 100,000 supporters to hand over a memorandum to Parliament and the King, on Feb 17 and March 7 respectively.
Former Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director-general and movement president Datuk Dr Hassan Ahmad said the policy was not achieving its objectives and was creating more problems instead.
New group: Protesters showing their discontent over the policy on the teaching of Maths and Science after their movement was launched in Kuala Lumpur Saturday. “How can you teach Maths and Science in English to pupils who don’t even understand English when they first come to school, whether Chinese or Indians or Malays?” he asked at the movement’s launch yesterday.
He also said that many rural students were grappling with the subjects and that teaching of English in schools should improve in order to master the language.
“We should improve the techniques of teaching English, expose children to good literature and get experts to devise a method that works,” he said.
PKR and PAS representatives were also present at the launch to show their support.
PKR youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said although PAS and PKR machinery would be used to spread awareness of the movement’s beliefs, Pakatan Rakyat was not making this a political issue.
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