They will not be given a choice to answer in English for school tests and public examinations as they progress through the years. Their textbooks would also be in Bahasa Malaysia, said Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom.
Those entering Form One and Form Four next year will be given the option to study Science and Maths either in Bahasa Malaysia or English. Their textbooks, however, will be in English.
Those entering Form One and Form Four next year will be given the option to study Science and Maths either in Bahasa Malaysia or English. Their textbooks, however, will be in English.
"If the students are ready to be taught in Bahasa Malaysia, then the teacher can teach the two subjects in Bahasa Malaysia. If they are not ready, then the teacher can teach in English or opt to teach in both languages.
"Through the 'soft landing' approach, the change in the medium of instruction for the teaching of Science and Maths will be done gradually to accommodate the variability in students' and teachers' readiness," Alimuddin told the New Sunday Times.
He said the process of transition will be done in stages (refer to transition table).
He said the process of transition will be done in stages (refer to transition table).
Alimuddin added that the switch to Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction for Science and Maths would apply to national schools, whereas in SJKs (national-type schools), the switch would be to their mother tongues -- Mandarin in SJKC and Tamil in SJKT respectively.
Students entering Form Two in 2012, said Alimuddin, would be allowed to study Science and Maths in Bahasa Malaysia and English until they reach Form Five in 2015.
"Textbooks in Bahasa Malaysia will be supplied to Year One pupils beginning next year and Year Four beginning 2012 for primary schools. For the SJKC and SJKT, there will be textbooks in Mandarin and Tamil respectively.
"As for secondary schools, textbooks in Bahasa Malaysia will be supplied to Form One and Form Four students beginning 2012.
"Students are allowed to answer in English in exams during the transitional period but once the medium of instruction is completely in Bahasa Malaysia for a particular year or form, then they are required to answer in Bahasa Malaysia," said Alimuddin.
Asked whether schools will be given the option to teach the two subjects in English, Alimuddin said: "The bilingual medium of instruction is allowed only during the transitional period. Once the medium of instruction is completely Bahasa Malaysia for a particular year or form, then the only medium of instruction allowed is Bahasa Malaysia.
"By 2016, the medium of instruction for both subjects across primary and secondary schools will completely be in Bahasa Malaysia in all national schools," said Alimuddin.
He said 2013 was the last year in which the Penilaian Menengah Rendah examination would be conducted in two languages for Science and Maths, while for the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations, it would be in 2015.
On July 8, last year, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the education minister, announced the cabinet's decision to reverse the policy of teaching Science and Maths in English (or PPSMI).
Muhyiddin was reported to have said Science and Maths would be taught in Bahasa Malaysia and vernacular languages in stages from 2012 in line with the ministry's "Memartabatkan Bahasa Melayu, Memperkukuhkan Bahasa Inggeris -- Upholding the Malay Language, strengthening command of English" strategic move.
The reversal in policy came seven years after PPSMI was introduced by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2003.
Muhyiddin told Parliament in October last year that the ministry was mulling the possibility of teaching the two subjects in Bahasa Malaysia to Year One pupils next year, ahead of the initial 2012 target.
Read more: Bilingual option for students and teachers http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/17sain-2/Article/#ixzz12aZvgiFd
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