Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English

Right now the country's educational system is struggling with a mighty momentous decision - whether or not to continue the teaching of mathematics and science in English. The original aim of this approach in using English, an international language, in the teaching of mathematics and science is to enable students to access the wealth of knowledge in these two key subjects that is predominantly stored in the English langauge (of course, it is also stored in other more 'international' languges or languages of nations that are technologically superior to Malaysia). Do we not want access to the treasure house of knowledge that only requires a working knowledge of the language it is written in? Why then the backtrackking? Are we going to be just contented with the peanuts in our vernacular languages because we are able to master peanuts? And admit that we are monkeys?

I know from first hand that it is possible to acquire these peanuts as I studied for my degree in engineering in Malay BUT, and I am qualified to say so, I could never have excelled in engineering with just the peanuts that I studied. Even when I was studying engineering in Malay, my own private study and research was all done by referring to reference books in English. Without that backup reference to engineering text in English I would not have been able to function effectively as an engineer. And I could do it because of my strong grounding in English. But our educationists are dropping the teaching of mathematics and science because our students are unable to follow the teaching in English. If they can't even do that, what hope have they got when they go out into the real working world where even the processes that they will be working with are all described in English as are the design and manufacturer's documentation.

Like most things, our educational system is not designed to equip our stuents with skills and abilities to take on the world - just going through the motions of educating them and giving them a certification that they are already educated. And, of course, when they go out they will repeat the process - just going through the motions of working without achieving anything at all and yet will be paid as if they have.

Malaysia Boleh.