Saturday September 15, 2012

DPM: Schools should offer more language classes

By KANG SOON CHEN
educate@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: National schools will be the school of choice for all races by offering more classes teaching pupils' own language.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said national schools in peninsular Malaysia should offer more classes in the Chinese and Tamil languages, whereas the number of native language classes could be increased in Sabah and Sarawak.

“The offering of language classes in national schools will achieve two objectives. First, students will have more opportunities to learn multiple languages, thereby helping to foster national integration.

“Secondly, the improved teaching quality of the language subjects will encourage more parents to send their children to national schools,” said Muhyiddin in his speech when launching the National Education Convention yesterday.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said that the learning of multiple languages should be encouraged without compromising on the status of Bahasa Malaysia as the main language of communication.

On the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 that was launched on Tuesday, Muhyiddin said the recent Cabinet meeting had decided that an implementation team comprising multiple agencies such as the Finance Ministry, Public Services Department, Human Resources Ministry and the Performances Delivery Unit (Pemandu), would be formed to monitor the execution of the blueprint.

“The end objective of the implementation team will be to ensure that the plans outlined in the final report of the blueprint will be carried out to fulfil the wishes and aspirations of the people,” he said, adding that he would head the implementation team.

Earlier in KOTA BARU, Muhyiddin said water filters would be immediately installed in 500 schools in Kelantan that were facing dirty water supply.

The installation of the filters, a project under the Education Ministry, is expected to cost RM2.5mil.

“We hope that this can reduce the problem of dirty water.

“I don't want students in Kelantan to be infected with diseases caused by dirty water,” Muhyiddin told reporters after opening the Kota Baru Umno division delegates meeting.

The event also doubled up as a meet-the-people session and an Aidilfitri reception.

Some 22,000 people turned up for the event.

News

Saturday September 15, 2012

DPM: Schools should offer more language classes

By KANG SOON CHENeducate@thestar.com.my

By KANG SOON CHEN
educate@thestar.com.my