Issues/ concerns in Malaysia education system

Dearest reader,

Finally our classes for semester one is done and dusted! But, still got few assignments need to be submitted and final assessments is next week.

Anyway, for last class of PGDE 7013 - Philosophy of Education, we were asked about any issues/ topics that we would like to discuss in regards with education in Malaysia. Below are some issues raised by classmates and I.

1. Outsource teachers from Singapore to teach English in Malaysia
2. Demolition of examinations - UPSR and PT3
3. Language changes in learning Mathematics and Science
4. Technology and internet access in public school in rural areas
5. Food poisoning after eating meals provided by school during school programmes
6. Involvement of parents in school activities/ programmes

We were given around 1 hour to do a SWOT analysis poster regarding these issues and present to the class afterwards. Below is what I managed to do during the class.

Newspaper article regarding the announcement. Click image above to read full article.

 

Arguments that I have gathered after doing an online research:

1. Are Malaysian teachers not good enough to teach English? Are Malaysian teachers are not enough in quantity to teach English subject?
2. English language is a foreign language in Malaysia. It is not a mother tongue to most Malaysians. If teachers to teach English in rural areas which English language fluency is low, teachers cannot speak 100% in English during lessons. Students cannot relate to the lessons if it is 100% delivered in English. The question is, can teachers or as what they mentioned, volunteer teachers speak local language if the students cannot understand the lesson? We are referring to Sabah rural areas. By saying local language, it is not just Malay Language but Sabah Malay dialect. Can they?
3. The factors of low fluency of English language among Malaysian students, are not just teachers. There are many other factors. If the gov really wants to help our students, they need to look at the big picture. There are many other factors such as, English subject curriculum, English language syllabus, technology applied in education, and many more. So, by having volunteer teachers from the neighbour country to teach locals is just a quick move but will it serve the purpose? Need to think again.

On the hand, I totally understand that the idea of having the volunteer teachers from Singapore to teach English in Malaysia is to tighten the diplomatic bond between these two countries.

My take :

1. Try to really look into the root problems of low English literacy among Malaysian students.
2. There are many other ways to tighten diplomatic bond between Malaysia and Singapore that both countries can benefit.

Below I list out some reference articles if you want to have further reading. Click on the link to read.

1. 'Last resort': Educators, parents in Malaysia frown on Anwar's call for Singapore volunteers to teach English
   
2. Plan to import volunteer teachers from Singapore shameful, says PAGE
   
3. MoE welcomes scheme to bring in English teachers from Singapore

I think that’s all for now. I still have two pending entries that is due next week. Write again soon. Bye!

Amalina.