Wednesday, July 8, 2009

We're Reverting...PPSMI No More!

As expected... it's back to BM as the medium of instruction. It's supposed to start from 2012. Is it good? Frankly speaking, I don't know. The medium of instruction is just one of the many problems plaguing our education system. If anything, the MOE should also tackle the problem of teacher competency. But I supposed if you look at it from the competency angle, at least the not so competent teachers now do not have to deal with the problem of language competency. It was double jeopardy for this group of teachers before this.

So what does it mean... printers are going to make another killing. RM5 billion down the drain. And probably another step backward? Reintroduction of literature as a subject... and grammar and composition? Will that help? Where are they going to find the time to slot those new subjects into the timetable? More English teachers.... We weren't any better with English as the medium of instruction. Would we do better with BM as the medium of instruction? If a teacher cannot solve a Mathematical question, it doesn't matter whether the medium of instruction is in English or BM or any other language for that matter. For too long, our schools have been staffed by mediocre or less than mediocre teachers.... do something about that! Only then harp about the medium of instruction...

The gahmen should consider the reintroduction of English medium schools. Let the parents choose. Yet they have not mentioned that. It's like they want everyone to be in the doldrums together. You know, if I cannot master English, you shouldn't master it too well kinda mentality. National unity through BM as the language of instruction. National unity is more than just language.

So, it's back to being the froggy under the coconut shell?? I dunno! But tis a sad day indeed... Malaysia the new yo-yo-land. Reversal of policies without much thought.... to win in Manek Urai perhaps??? Where are our visionaries??? It's still all about a populist thingy....

And meanwhile... read this.. You can ROFL if you need to. From an institution of higher learning.. our English standard is already very 'cham'... reversal of policy will only make it more 'cham'.

4th UiTM INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FIESTA
19 – 23 November 2009 FUTSAL-RUGBY 7- TENPIN BOWLING-BADMINTON


Dear Sport Friends,

Regarding about the global issue H1N1 happens around the world, sadly to be informing that our UiTM International Sports Fiesta will be postponing to 19-23 November 2009.

For all teams which have been confirm to participate in our events, we have to say sorry for this announcements and our Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Health also advise to us to change the date for this current situation.

By the date have been confirm incoming this November hopefully your teams still can participate in our event and don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.

And again, we would like to say sorry about the date change for the sake of our health among us.

See you in this November at UiTM Malaysia!!

Regards,

Mr. Mustaza Ahmad
Director
Sports Centre
Universiti Teknologi MARA
Malaysia

5 comments:

All things beautiful said...

Sad day indeed but I look at it this way: No need to conduct English classes with those recalcitrant Maths & Science teachers anymore. YEH!!!

AJ7 said...

Recalcitrant Maths and Science teachers, huh? Just go to prove my point that there is something not quite right with our teaching fraternity... dah pun English lemah, but don't want to upgrade.... free lesson, oso don wan to attend... Malaysia Boleh!

Thomas C B Chua said...

Randon Shots,

Reply 2 the Uitm notice:-

" I is thank to you about the notice
say H1N1 Babi. Team my practised hard hard but cannot part in the participate. Never mine team my take part in November. I say thank you same same."

Thomas C B Chua said...

Random Shots, in the 1970s, yours sincerely was in USM.BM was compulsory for all undergraduates. A PROF lecturing BM was very anti-west, from hot dogs to the feminist movement. He took shots at the English language over her pronunciation, spelling and what nots.
We, the undergrats, stood aghast, one day when we saw his wife. She was more western than westerners. She was in very short shorts with frilled bottoms, transparent half blouse which exposed her midriff and tied into a ribbon in front, hair dyed blone (mind you this was in the 1970s!) and speaking heavily accented English to her children.

This is an example of a Bumi who has benefited from the English Language but criticized the language to hold his own people in bondage.

Sic.......

AJ7 said...

Thomas... you probably hit the nail spot on. It's a form of bondage... if the people cannot comprehend stuff in English, there're lots of things out there they cannot know. And it becomes easier for the gahmen to direct the strings...

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