Published on: Friday, March 13, 2009 |
Penampang: Learning subjects in English, particularly Science and Maths, is never an excuse for not being able to do well and excel in education, as proven by the students of SM St Michael here in last year's SPM examination.
The school even achieved 92.6 per cent and 97.7 per cent passes in Mathematics and Science, respectively, as well as 100 per cent passes in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Additional Science and English For Science and Technology.
Of the 256 students who sat for SPM last year, which is the largest batch in the school's history to sit for the exam so far, three achieved 10As, while another three achieved 9As, 14 8As and four 7As.
Principal, Marie Yong Pik Hua, said these are also among the contributors to improvement in the school's SPM achievement in terms of the number of grade A achievers as well as the school grade average rate (GPS) which went up to 4.28 per cent, from previously 4.3 per cent.
The school is proud with the achievement considering it was the largest batch of students undertaking the exam so far, she said, adding they have also maintained their passing rate at 99.20 per cent.
The said subjects in English are among 10 subjects in which the school registered 100 per cent passes with the rest being Pendidikan Islam, Geography, Pendidikan Seni Visual and Perdagangan.
"I think our students are doing very well, they have proven they can do it," she said, seeing no reason for the teaching and learning of these subjects in English to be reverted to Bahasa Malaysia.
"To me I would prefer to move forward rather than go backward," she said.
She said their success was also due to the hard work and dedication of the teachers involved, as well as the students, their parents and the Parent-Teacher Association.
Yong's opinion on the teaching of Maths and Science subjects in English found the support of the three 10A achievers of the school, Shana Anabelle Peter, Yvonne Cashinn Chia and Ricky Rack.
"The teaching and learning of these subjects in English is good because it actually prepares students much better in terms of higher education, which requires the mastering of EnglishÉit makes things easier for us, particularly in searching for reference books and additional knowledge which are mostly only available in English," said Shana who aspires to be a doctor.
Shana, who is from Kg Tunoh in Penampang and the eldest among three siblings with one of her brothers also sitting for the SPM exam this year, achieved eight 1As and two 2As. She obtained 1A for Maths, Additional Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English For Science and Technology.
Ricky, meanwhile, said he used to dislike English but once he reached Form Two he developed a liking for reading books in English. "Reading is one of my hobbies, so I find it (English) helps me," he said.
He finds learning Science and Maths and any other subject in English really helpful because "we should be moving forward rather than going backward."
"Maybe in rural areas the students there may find it difficult, but in urban areas like KK and Penampang I don't find it difficult provided the teachers are willing to help the students," said the Kampung Nosoob boy who achieved eight 1As and two 2As.
Also aspiring to be a doctor, he plans to further his studies either at Universiti Sains Malaysia or Universiti Malaya.
Yvonne, of Oriental Park here, said as she was from a Chinese primary school so she could not really see a big difference between learning Science and Maths in English and Bahasa Malaysia.
"But English is actually much easierÉwe should continue with it (the present language used in the teaching), because it is a good way to prepare ourselves," said this youngest among two sisters who is thinking of furthering her studies in either geology, agrotech or biotech.
