KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet has decided that the medium of instruction for Maths and Science will revert to Bahasa Malaysia in national schools and mother-tongue languages in national-type schools from 2012 onwards.

The reversal of the Teaching of Math and Science in English (PPSMI) policy will be done in stages, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said on Wednesday.

He however added that there will be greater emphasis on learning the English language.

English literature will be re-introduced, as will subjects on grammar and composition.

Beginning 2012, students in Year One and Year Four in primary schools, and Form One and Form Four in secondary schools, will learn Math and Science in Bahasa Malaysia.

The change will not affect those in Form Six and Matriculation.

The two subjects will be taught in two languages until 2014 for other students, he said.

“The gap between rural and urban students has widened since PPSMI started.

“Only 19.2% of secondary teachers and 9.96% of primary teachers were sufficiently proficient in English,” he said, explaining the Government’s decision to revert to the old system.

On efforts to emphasise the learning of English, the number of English teachers would be increased by 13,933 -- retirees would be hired, as well as foreigners if need be.

Primary schools will also increase English classes by 90 minutes a week.

There have been calls from various groups for the policy to revert to before 2003, when the subjects were taught in Bahasa Malaysia in national schools, and either in Chinese or Tamil in national-type schools.

The issue has seen a rare alliance between Malay and Chinese educationists, who are against the switch, although there are also calls by many parents and entrepreneurs for English to be maintained.

More to come

Statistics on BM and English

Earlier story:
DPM to make announcement on the use of English to teach Mathematics and Science after Cabinet gives its okay

• Asia Brands up, Kenanga Research has Outperform
• Alliance Research lowers Affin to Neutral but ups target price
• KLCI inches up in early trade, boost from PPB Group, HLFG
• Malaysia's Titan seeks up to 130,000 tonnes of naphtha
• Maybank KE Research maintains Buy on TSH, TP RM2.38
• CME to launch palm oil swaps contract on June 3
• Maybank KE Research maintains Buy on Gamuda, TP RM5.30
• British PM tells Google and others to play fair on paying tax
• Trading ideas: Pos Malaysia, BToto, Notion Vtech
• Malaysia-Market factors to watch on May 21(Tuesday)
• Wall Street ends flat on correction worries
• Raytheon to sign US$2.1bil arms sale to Oman
• Report: iPhone maker Apple keeping billions of dollars in Irish subsidiaries to avoid taxes
• Revival of abandoned RM1.4bil 79-storey Plaza Rakyat near Pudu bus terminal
• Wahid: M’sia growth prospects still bright, will be driven by Govt identified projects

• Dozens dead as tornado hits Oklahoma City
• No new H7N9 cases in China for a week: government
• Villagers discover ancient ball game statue in Mexico
• British PM survives gay marriage vote
• Kerry to help ink $2.1 bn defense accord with Oman
• Yahoo unveils makeover of flickr site

• Plenty for Hafizh as 55 is significant in his early racing career
• Yi Ting on a mission
• Razif: Indiscipline the cause of senior players’ poor performances
• Cool V Shem believes he will be too hot for rivals to handle
• Spirited Malaysian team vow to deliver against Germans
• Japan hope to reach their first semis in tourney
• KLHC to rule the roost if other teams don’t raise their game
• Malaysia have their work cut out in the World League
• Gobi’s fate to be decided by MHC’s administrative committee
• Andre nails it with last jump
• Grace hammers home a point with two golds
• Delia one step away from main draw after easy win
• Sharon believes KPT circuit is excellent for squash’s future
• Nadal and Williams are looking unbeatable leaving rivals stunned
• Reigning champion thumps Xu Xin as Taiwan make history with first gold

• Please wait.

• Rape accused defends marriage to 13-year-old, says it was mutual
• Not taken for a good ride and not ungrateful
• The best ways to national unity
• ‘Boycott will be self-defeating’
• MAS flew baby home with doctor's certification, says CEO Ahmad Jauhari
• Revival of abandoned RM1.4bil 79-storey Plaza Rakyat near Pudu bus terminal
• MAHB sees 10% rise in KLIA passenger numbers from last year's 39.9mil
• CME to launch palm oil swaps contract on June 3
• ‘Fortune tellers’ from China nabbed
• 48 NGOs to take part in PJ rally