New Straits Times Online（http://www.nst.com.my）
Cabinet unlikely to make decision before Jan 5 on teaching of Maths, Science , 24 December 2008
by Suganthi Suparmaniam
KUALA LUMPUR: Science and Mathematics will continue to be taught in English in the new school term if there is no decision on the controversial policy before then. As the new term starts on Jan 5 and a cabinet-approved decision looks highly unlikely before that, the policy will continue as it is for now, officials said.
Education officials met yesterday for a workshop to finalise a report on the policy, their first after the final roundtable on the issue was held in Putrajaya last Tuesday.
Education Ministry director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom said the policy would stay as it is unless Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein decided otherwise before pupils go back to school.
"If nothing comes up before that, then things will proceed as normal in the schools for the new term," he told the New Straits Times.
Hishammuddin had already been given an oral briefing of the summary of the roundtable discussions on teaching Science and Mathematics in English, he said.
The minister is expected to deliberate on the matter after a detailed report is given to him by his officials, before he takes his case to the cabinet for a decision.
Officials confirmed that the first workshop discussing and summarising all the points and views of the five roundtables had been held, and there would probably be a few more until a report was ready.
Those against the policy and looking for a complete switch for the coming term will be disappointed, they said.
"It is not as simple as that. Even if we are looking at a complete reversal, it will not affect the pupils of this term. It would be impossible as we would have to prepare and co-ordinate the reversal nationwide," an official said.
Conversely, if the cabinet decides that the policy should remain, the ministry would still have to plan their approach and implement changes for improvement.
It is understood that those in charge of preparing the report are trying to finish the task as soon as possible, but with the sensitivities and publicity surrounding the issue, are aiming to do a thorough and comprehensive job.
Last Tuesday, the fifth and the last roundtable was held with some 200 politicians, academicians and representatives of non-governmental organisations and parent-teacher associations to discuss the merits and demerits of teaching Science and Mathematics in English.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, who chaired the meeting with Alimuddin, had said that all views and concerns on whether the six-year-old policy would continue would be compiled and summarised and given to Hishammuddin.
The policy to use English to teach Science and Mathematics was implemented on January 2003. It was proposed to arrest the declining command of the language among students.
The policy drew criticism from various quarters demanding that schools should revert to teaching Science and Maths in Bahasa Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Pas Youth information chief Suhaizan Kaiat said despite protests by many quarters, the ministry had shown no inclination to revert the teaching of the two subjects to Bahasa Malaysia as before.
In a press statement, Suhaizan said individuals and organisations would have to act in a more aggressive manner to push their case forward, especially on behalf of those living in rural areas.
He also urged NGOs to stick to their stand and not to make a U-turn if they were pressured by the government.
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