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Friday, January 09, 2009

Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English - Ministry in no hurry to make decision

The Star

PUTRAJAYA: There is no rush to make a decision on whether the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English should continue or revert to Bahasa Malaysia.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said any change could only be implemented next year.

“We are nearly at the tail-end of looking at all the details gathered,” he told reporters after delivering his New Year message to his ministry’s staff.

What was more important, he added, was that the ministry was satisfied with the views, suggestions and ideas from all parties before a decision was made.

The teaching of Mathematics and Science in English policy was implemented in phases, starting with Year One, Form One and Lower Six in 2003.

Hishammuddin had said earlier that it was time to look at the policy after six years ‘’based on facts, figures and an absence of emotion’’.

He said the Cabinet would make the final decision.

On another matter, Hishammuddin said students, teachers and ministry staff would be encouraged to participate in a mass movement against the violence in Palestine.

“They are citizens of the world and it is important for them to realise that things that happen outside our shores will have a direct impact on them too,” he said.

Hishammuddin later launched a guidebook on the educational aid available from the ministry.

For 2009, he said the Government was allocating RM3.6bil as additional aid for students, adding that the guidebook listed the 19 types of aid provided including the Poor Students’ Provident Trust Fund, tuition voucher scheme, sports scholarship scheme, students with special needs’ allowance and pre-school food aid.

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