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By LEANNE GOH and KAREN CHAPMAN (The Star) Caught between the rock and a hard place, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein faces the difficult decision of whether or not to revert the teaching of Maths and Science to Bahasa Malaysia. In the first part of a two-part series, the minister tells Sunday Star that all will be revealed very soon. FOR and against – there is a chasm between those in favour of the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English and those pressuring the Government to revert to Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of instruction for the two subjects. From the time then Prime Minister and Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced the policy change in 2002 to help arrest the declining standards of the English language among students, there has been consistent resistance to the move. Within classrooms and staffrooms, in homes and offices, parents, teachers, students and educationists have expressed a range of views, while letters to the editors in vernacular and other newspapers appear almost every day. Even the late Tan Sri Abdul Rafie Mahat, who was then the director-general of education in charge of implementing the change in policy faced much opposition amidst the hasty implementation to the policy, describing the task as “seven months of hard work”. The Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (ETeMS or better known by its Malay acronym, PPSMI) policy was implemented in phases, beginning with Year One, Form One and Lower Six students in 2003. The first cohort who completed six years of primary schooling and studied the two subjects in English received their Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) results last month. Education director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom disclosed that between 31% and 46% of them answered the questions for the two subjects entirely in English (they have a bilingual option). A total of 159,234 pupils answered the Science paper in English and 238,153 for Maths, a significant increase over last year’s figure of 1,324 for Science and 1,075 for Maths. The results have been much awaited. Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein announced that he would wait for this concrete piece of statistics before coming to a decision on whether or not to revert to Bahasa – and he is under tremendous pressure to do so from many quarters, including Umno and MCA. When asked if he would make a politically biased decision on this matter, he says: “I can only speak for myself and it’s definitely not going to be political one. If it were, I would have changed the policy three years ago when I became the minister. “It is something that I came in with; it is not something I created.” Hishammuddin says the Education Ministry (MOE) has held four roundtable discussions with stakeholders to gather their views on the policy over the past year. A fifth and final one will be held on Tuesday to discuss the analysis of the UPSR results. “After six years, it is time for us to look at it (the policy) – based on facts, figures and without emotion. “I am glad we had the roundtable discussions because in the past, we only heard the views of those who are very loud; but since then, we have seen the silent majority coming forward too. “I am sure that whatever decision we take will not satisfy everyone. There are as many advocates as there are detractors, and the pros and cons are equally substantive. Both sides have put forth strong and convincing arguments.” For sure the decision awaiting Hishammuddin and the Cabinet will not be an easy one; whatever the decision, there will be unhappy people. “Making a decision is not about satisfying any group in particular, but about making a choice on what is best for the nation,” he adds. Below is an excerpt of the interview with Sunday Star. There is obvious mixed response on whether the policy should revert to Bahasa Malaysia or remain in English. Who makes the final decision? The Cabinet will make the final decision. As far as how I have been handling it, it has been non-political. I am glad we had the roundtables because in the past we have heard the views of those who are very loud but since then, we have seen the silent majority coming forward. The views are not just about mastering English but about the fear of losing the identity in the context of Chinese education; and the position of the national language. With the UPSR results, at least we have shown that the “demonisation” of the policy and the scare tactics of children failing and dropping out ... that did not happen. I think we made the right decision by waiting until the first batch completed the UPSR. In any educational policy, there are always pros and cons – there is no formula which will satisfy everyone, especially on an issue which concerns so many. There is concern that any decision made may be due to political considerations rather than educational ones. What is your opinion on this? And how do you ensure (and convince the public that) the decision is free from political interference? I am glad that we allowed our first batch of PPSMI students to undergo this policy until they completed their UPSR examination. Although we were pressured to make a decision earlier, I strongly believe that it was a right decision. The students have been given the avenue to show their capability without undermining their ability. It might not be a black and white decision or a yes and no decision. We have to study its overall impact and look at the educational, social and economic considerations. The decision will be based on the advice from the professionals in education but we will also take into account other considerations. This is the reason for the series of PPSMI roundtable discussions as we need to listen to the views of the people as the policy will affect the public at large. Professionals in education including researchers from our public universities were invited for the first roundtable. The second roundtable was attended by representatives from associations and organisations, professional bodies, corporate, community leaders, parent-teacher associations and interested individuals. Students, teachers and lecturers from matriculation colleges and teacher training institutes attended the third session while politicians attended the fourth. We also held a special meeting with representatives from the teachers’ unions and associations. What do you see as the biggest pros for the English policy? I think the reason for having the policy itself is a confusion – some see it as a way to master English. Another school of thought says you have to learn the two subjects in English. Our solution depends on whether you look at mastering Science and Mathematics and to do so in English, or mastering English. There are many ways to do the latter, such as strengthening the subject or introducing Literature in English. Our teachers had to be trained to teach in English – it was a double whammy as they not only had to relearn teaching in another language but also learn to use the notebooks and projectors. After six years, I do give credit to our teachers who worked very hard – it was not a disaster. After six years, it is time for us to see it (the policy) – based on facts, figures and without emotion. The roundtables give a good perspective of the views out there. A concern raised has been what happens if there is any policy change. Will a child who studied the two subjects in English in primary school have to study the two subjects in Bahasa Malaysia once he is in secondary school? We make it clear that whatever change, if any, will not happen mid-stream. In other words, it will only affect those in a new batch of Year One students. Those who are already in the system will continue to study the two subjects in English. Children should not be treated like experiments and guinea pigs. On the secondary school part, I feel the objection is not as intense as in the primary school as the issues of national language and mother tongue languages do not arise there. Would you arrive at a compromise where the policy reverts in primary school but students do the two subjects in English at secondary school? I don’t think I can decide now. It’s too early to say one way or another as I am not the expert. We are not just relying on experts any more but listening to all stakeholders. So I can’t say that we are going one way or the other until I analyse all the feedback received. Two things are clear – waiting until after the UPSR was the right decision in my mind and my conscience is clear. Secondly, having the roundtables and bringing the stakeholders on board was the right thing because sometimes the silent majority do not speak up and now they have had the opportunity to do so. Many people including the Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) from SK Bukit Damansara (in Kuala Lumpur) feel that the best age to learn a language is when children are young while some political parties want to go back to mother tongue education in primary school level. Are there more people now accustomed to and accepting of English as the medium of instruction? Various groups have expressed their opposing views during the roundtable discussions. It is obvious that advocates or detractors of PPSMI are representing and defending their own interests and opinions and it is rather impossible to satisfy every quarter. The decision on the future of PPSMI is indeed a tough decision because of the complexity of the variables. At the end of the day, we will need to arrive at a decision and put in place strategies that will benefit our children. Making a decision is not about satisfying any group in particular, but about making a choice on what is best for the nation in the future. Are you setting a deadline then on when the decision will be made? Obviously it won’t be implemented in the next school year beginning next month. No, you can’t do it next year. I hope a decision can be made by January next year. But for any decision made in education, the ground work has to be done before anything can be implemented. This is one thing I have learnt. It’s one thing making a decision and dealing with the repercussions. I have to consider the teachers, textbooks, computers and software. So without saying one way or the other, I think at least this one year we have to make the preparation. But a decision on the policy will have to be made soon. I think we have enough information. Will it be in your new year address? It depends on when we can table it to Cabinet and whether they are happy about it. Then we have to bring it up to the Barisan Nasional meeting. When the policy was first raised previously, it was at the political level (Dr Mahathir announced the proposal made by the party’s supreme council in 2002). You have said there is no political considerations but ultimately what will happen in the decision-making? I can only speak for myself and it’s definitely not political. If it was, I would have changed the policy three years ago. It is something that I came in with. It is not something I created. It was already political then. If I were playing politics, I would have changed it then. Why go through all the heartache and uncertainty if it is just merely politics? No, it’s not in my nature to risk the future of our children. You will be remembered as the Education Minister who reverted to Bahasa or retained the status quo. Will there be a compromise? What is your personal view? Why do you look at it as a yes or no? It could (be a compromise) because people look at it at politically. In education terms, we don’t have to look at it that way. My personal view is not important. Do you find this issue to be one of your biggest challenges? No, I think every issue at the Education Ministry is a challenge. It is a very heavy ministry. If you combine the police, the armed forces and health services, it still won’t come up to the 480,000 people that’s under me right now. Any decision that is made, you won’t see the outcome, maybe not even in your lifetime so any decision made must not be on emotions, or even personal considerations. The consequences are far-reaching and the issues are huge. PPSMI is just one that is sensational. Do you feel ready to make the decision by January? The decision is not mine but I would like to target it so it gives us more time to prepare for a new intake. If you want to start at Year One, any changes have got to be done then. If there is no change, there is no need to prepare. Once we have decided, we will announce it. Will you wait and announce the decision after the Umno general assembly in March? If it is ready in time for assembly, we will announce it then but there have been four assemblies before this and I have resisted from announcing anything. This is a lose-lose situation as you can’t satisfy everybody. As a politician, I would fight for it not to be announced at the assembly as there are bound to be people who will be not be happy with it. There are parents who are so concerned about the switch that they are transferring their children from private schools to international ones. We have teachers who transferred themselves six years ago; but who have since transferred back. It is fear of the unknown. Have you taken into consideration the cost if the subjects revert to Bahasa? I don’t think there is a problem as the books are still bilingual as are the examinations. I don’t see any big problem. You have to look at the majority as you can’t cater for the minority. Next week, Sunday Star looks at the pros and cons of Maths and Science in English based on the findings of the roundtable discussions and analysis of the UPSR results.
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The Blogs 
English teaching in science and maths will not help, in fact is giving our kids too much burden and make them confuse.
If they wish, we can have 100% English teaching in all subjects and abolish BM, Mandarin and Tamil just as second language and may be BM only as another subject.
Stupid Minister, look at our shameful University with BM teaching that lead us to nowhere. in UIA, UiTM, MARA are even worse. Some "i" do not even teach rather than full with Ketuanan Islam & Melayu ideology.
BN ministers are just full of politician people while not professionals in the related field.