Kota Kinabalu: Although the Education Ministry has allowed the teaching of Science and Maths in English to continue until 2016 and 2021 for primary and secondary levels, respectively, there is uncertainty whether the wishes of parents to opt for English can be met - at least in Sabah.This is because the State Education Department is still grappling with knowing which schools have the capacity to teach both subjects fully in English next year.
Already the anticipation is that schools offering English would have a tough time coping with requests by parents to have their children admitted to these schools.
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State Education Director, Datuk Dr Hj Muhiddin Yusin, told Daily Express the problem is aggravated by teachers wanting to be transferred not only back to the peninsula but also from one school to another within the State itself.
In fact, the period from the end of the year to the beginning of the new year is a trying one which makes it difficult for the department to reach a decision.
"It is difficult to gauge the actual situation in all the schools.
I understand the anticipation of parents who may think the list of schools is ready by now.
"Unfortunately, the Curriculum Committee in each school has yet to make a decision. The respective division education offices in Sabah are still in the process of identifying schools which can offer Science and Mathematics in the English medium.
"We are trying our best to face and solve this new phenomenon.
We will only be able to know when school re-opens next year," he said when contacted.
Pending the outcome, Dr Muhiddin advised parents to continue sending their children to the respective schools where they have been studying all this while.
The PPSMI (Teaching of Science and Maths in English for Primary Schools) policy was initiated by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and was implemented in phases beginning with Year One, Form One and Lower Six students in 2003.
The department has a task force to oversee the Ministry's policy of upholding Bahasa Malaysia and strengthening the English language (MBMMBI).
However, Deputy PM-cum-Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin announced prematurely in 2009 that the Government would reverse the policy and revert to Bahasa Malaysia in national schools and Chinese and Tamil in vernacular schools while more emphasis would be placed on English.
The State Education Department has been directed to try to accommodate if parents ask for transfer of their children to schools which are able to conduct the teaching of Science and Mathematics in a preferred language.
"But I am not sure whether all wishes can be fulfilled if too many parents choose a certain language, given the limited capacity of schools in terms of teaching Science and Mathematics in English," he said.
The Director said a lot of factors have to be sorted out before a school can offer the two subjects in English.
"It is going to be a huge exercise and I can foresee the problem of arranging classes and assigning teachers. Right now, we are not even certain of the level of parents' response towards English and Bahasa Malaysia.
"We also have to consider the capacity of schools, availability of qualified teachers, their readiness to teach the subjects in English and the ability of students themselves," he added.
Added to this is the problem of whether parents are willing to transfer their children to a particular school just because it offers their preferred language, even if the school is far away.
Dr Muhiddin said Sabah faces a shortage of 300 English optionists for primary schools alone at any time of the year.
"What is happening is that in many instances, non-English optionists have been asked to teach Science and Mathematics in English.
The problem is further compounded by the fact that the teachers are also non-Science or non-Mathematics optionists," he pointed out.
Many parents fear that they may be forced to accept both subjects being taught in Bahasa, despite being given a reprieve, in view of the fact that the decision to postpone the abolition was only made on Nov. 4, last year, while many principals were saying the books would only be in Bahasa Malaysia.
