Friday July 10, 2009
English not neglected
By KAREN CHAPMAN and ZULKIFLI AB RAHMAN
PUTRAJAYA: Retired English teachers who want to serve on a contract basis can apply to the Education Ministry from next year.
Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said the teachers would be placed in schools near where they were living.
Other terms and conditions, including whether there would be an age limit for the teachers, were still being discussed, he told reporters after explaining the ministry’s strategy, Memartabatkan Bahasa Malaysia, Memperkukuhkan Bahasa Inggeris (Upholding Bahasa Malaysia, Strengthening English).
Alimuddin said negotiations were on-going between the ministry and several countries including Australia, New Zealand, India and Britain for the employment of the 1,000 foreign teachers.
Elaborating on the reversal to Bahasa Malaysia, Alimuddin said the lack of proficiency in English among the teachers had resulted in ineffective learning among the students.
“Only about 25% of the teachers achieved excellent and good bands according to surveys carried out by the ministry twice a year. The survey rates teachers’ English proficiency according to five bands, from very weak to excellent.”
He also said the remaining teachers achieved a weak band, which meant they scored 51%.
“To be effective teachers, they need to score at least excellent and good bands so their classes can be more interactive.”
Asked if the ministry would continue with the incentive payment for teachers who teach Science, Mathematics and English, Alimuddin said this was being discussed.
Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the Government would spend RM5bil to emphasise the teaching and learning of English in schools.
He said the Government would also save RM40mil annually from rolling back the policy, by recouping the allowance that had to be paid to the teachers teaching the subjects.
He also said several education modules would be introduced to help teachers and students learn various aspects of the language such as grammar, oral and listening skills.
Dr Puad told the Dewan Negara that 9,293 English teachers were placed in rural schools as of yesterday.
“Of these teachers, 954 are skilled English teachers who are working at the primary and secondary schools.”
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