English in Schools: Yes or Tidak

Does using English as the medium of instruction increase graduates' global competitiveness or dilute national identity? At the tabling of Budget 2016 last year, Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Razak announced that 300 primary schools would come under the Dual Language Programme (DLP) pilot project. Under the programme, schools nationwide would be given the option to teach Science, Mathematics, Information and Communications Technology, as well as Design and Technology, in English or Bahasa Malaysia. What are the lessons from our previous experiments teaching math and science in English?

 

Emeritus Professor Shaharir Mohd Zain, the spokesman for the Coalition to Abolish DLP, and Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, the Chairwoman of the Parent Action Group for Education or PAGE, share their opposing views about this new programme.