- More students answered in English.... from 21.5% to 51.2%.
- Passing percentage of English went up by 3.6% to 74.8%.
- 5.96% of candidates scored straight As.
- 15% scored As in all the 16 subjects offered. In some subjects more than 20% scored As, with Punjabi having a 56.2% candidates with A.
- Results also indicate that disparity between rural and urban students is narrowing
- And our Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom claimed that the standard of the PMR Maths and Science papers is higher than UK's.
So if we look at the raw data, then PPSMI (ETEMS) is slowly gaining ground and acceptance. So what actually are our politicians harping about? At the same time, the Chinese and Malay ultra nationalists continue to put their own interests and political agenda before that of the nation's.
But I feel the figures sometimes do not reflect the actual situation. For example, you have 74.8% of students passing English. But that figure does not quite reflect the true ability of the students. If we were to run a competency test based on the 4 skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking), I think we'd find a high percentage of those students falling short and very short too. Many would not be able to function at the minimum adequate level. So we have an assessment tool which may not be reflecting the true picture.
Still, I think PPSMI is generally good for the next gen; we need to master English. Perhaps we should give the stakeholders more open options then....English, Malay, Chinese, Tamil schools and give them the same financial support; basically have schools based on demand. Be fair in the disbursement of $$$ and other resources. See how the stakeholders choose! If there's no need to master English, surely there'll be no takers and everyone will be going to the school which represents the flavour of the day.
2 comments:
well, after school/university and you come out to work, everything you learn is basically thrown away (unless you're into some special niches like research, lecturing, etc.).
otherwise, the only thing that is useful that you take away from school is [1] english, [2] your communications skills, [3] your confidence, [4] your relationship skills and [5] your kiss ass skills.
agree with you about the skills part... the other subjects... learning them instills other stuff - discipline, flexibility, exposure, a love for knowledge, etc. And one of the reason why I am one of those who strongly feel about English skills... not because it's almost my first language but because it's essential for today's world.. just as I think learning Mandarin is important.
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