Minister changing education policy at his whims and fancy

Scrapping of PPSMI will cause problems to students

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian government should be firm with its education policy in order to be on par with its peers internationally, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president Datuk Eric Majimbun said.

The education policy must not be changed at the whims and fancy of the minister, the Sepanggar member of parliament said when commenting on the government's decision to revert the teaching of Science and Mathematics to Bahasa MaIaysia.

Deputy Prime Minister cum Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the decision was in the best interest of the country's 5.3 million students.

Muhyiddin added that while some parents may object to the move, the government had to consider the interests of the majority of Malaysians.

"This decision was not done in haste. It was done after careful study, and consultations with various groups. We did many things before we reached the decision," he said.

He added that parents who objected to the decision to abolish the Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) programme were entitled to their opinion.

Muhyiddin said the government had to listen not only to parents, but also consider the interests of millions of students nationwide and the 500,000 teachers at the more than 10,000 schools.

He said even with the decision to scrap the PPSMI, Malaysian students would still be given priority to learn English through the new policy of Upholding Bahasa Malaysia and Upholding English (MBM-MBI) to be implemented from next year.

Eric in a statement yesterday was of the opinion that the government's decision will cause problems to the student in the country.

"Why take 10 precious years for our children to master Science and Mathematics in a language that is internationally recognized and then change the policy for the sake of political needs.

"Why punish the innocent children," he said and added that the government is to be blamed for the issue.

"Ask the Umno leaders where their children study. I bet you 100 per cent that they are studying overseas, where English is the main language.

"The only reason for these leaders to send their children to foreign countries is to get better knowledge so that they can continue to work overseas. or else when they come back they can grab all the best places in the government and private sector posts because they have a better command of English leaving those who are local educated marginalized," he lamented.