10 juli 2009 02:00

PPSMI: No Extra School Hours

Putrajaya, malaysia - No extra school hours will be involved despite the additional hours allocated to the teaching and learning of English, said Education Ministry director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom. He said the additional English hours would come from other subjects, including music which would be shortened.

“This is to ensure that the teachers and students are not burdened,” he told reporters at a press conference on “Memartabatkan Bahasa Melayu, Memantapkan Bahasa Inggeris - New Deal for the Malaysian Education System” , here today.

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday announced that the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in national schools will be taught in Bahasa Malaysia (BM) starting 2012.

With the decision, the government opted to strengthen English by introducing additional hours for the subject.

Alimuddin said the government would make a decision on whether to continue or discontinue the allowance given to teachers who taught Science, Mathematics and English.

University graduate teachers were paid allowance of five percent of the basic pay while others were paid ten per cent of their basic pay.

On the 13,000 trained English teachers and 600 retired teachers to be recruited, he said they could apply to the ministry to serve on contract.

“Successful candidates will be asked to teach at schools near their homes. We are still discussing the age limit.”

He added the recruitment of 1,000 English teachers from overseas depended on ongoing talks with Australia, New Zealand, India and United Kingdom.

On textbooks for students who have to switch to study Science and Mathematics in BM, he said the ministry might print them in both languages.

Alimuddin added the government has not made a decision on the proposal to make passing English compulsory for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students.

This was despite feedback showing that 80 percent was in favour provided there was adequate trained English teachers.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my (9 July 2009)
Photo: http://biz.thestar.com.my

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