Ministry supports Sarawak's right to boost English proficiency
Published on: Tuesday, December 01, 2015
Kuching: The Education Ministry has no problem with leaders from any state in the country urging the people to master the English language.Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid said the ministry would, in fact, continue to support any effort and programme towards this goal."We certainly want our young people to master not only the English language but Bahasa Malaysia, French, Spanish, Mandarin or Japanese.
ADVERTISEMENT
"By being multi-lingual, they can participate in the international arena in any field," he said, after attending the official opening of the new building of the SK Matu Baru in Kampung Bintawa Hilir, near here, Monday."I agree with the decision by Adenan to step up the usage of English in the state. When our young people are very fluent in English, they can venture off our shores in search of jobs, knowledge or business the world over," he said.On the same matter, he said two new initiatives namely the "Dual language Programme" and the "Highly Immersive Programme" would be launched in schools nationwide when the school season begins next year."Costing a total of RM38.5 million, these pilot programmes are to strengthen the teaching of Mathematics and Science or in a Skill subject in English. It will be implemented optionally though.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We will start with around 300 schools in the country that are ready for them."The teachers and parents must be ready. Most of these schools are in the urban areas but we can also extend the programme to those schools in the rural areas which are ready," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar represented Chief Minister Adenan Satem in opening the RM19.9 million project.Meanwhile, a religious teacher, Roslin Che Mood will remain as principal of Christian Dayak-dominated SMK Sungai Paoh for now despite protests by parents, Sarawak education Director Rakayah Madon said."But I believe that he will not be there forever. It could be for a short period," she said. "He will stay put for a while as what Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem had told me. He had told me to let Roslin be there first," she said."The chief minister had also told me that Roslin should not be disturbed in discharging his duties and responsibilities as principal of the school," she said, adding the chief minister had summoned her after parents and Dayak groups had protested against the appointment.She also received reports that there was no longer any complaints from the parents against the appointment after Adenan had assured them he would intervene in the appointment if doing so would benefit the students.Parents, backed by Dayak community groups and even a senior minister in Adenan's cabinet, feared that Roslin would use his position to convert Dayak students, following precedents of conversions among native school children without their parents' consent in other schools in the Sarawak interior.Still fresh for many Sarawakians is the attempted conversion by two female teachers of SMK Lutong in Miri of an underaged Dayak student in March.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
