1.0
WHAT IS PPSMI
Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Bahasa Inggeris (PPSMI) or Teaching and Learning Science and Mathematics in English is a policy being embedded in education system o Malaysia since year !""#$ It is an education policy that aimed in impro%ing mastery o English language among students at primary and secondary schools in Malaysia$ &ccording to this policy' the Science and Mathematics subjects are taught in the English medium as opposed to the Malay medium used beore$ This policy as introduced by the ourth Prime Minister o Malaysia' Tun r$ Mahathir bin Mohamad$
2.0
HISTORY OF PPSMI
PPSMI has been enshrined as the Malaysian education policy decision in the special meeting o the *abinet on +,th -uly !""! chaired by Tun r$ Mahathir bin Mohamad$ &ccording to the Ministry o Education Malaysia' it as implemented by stages beginning in the early school year or Standard + pupils in Primary School and .orm + and Loer / students or Secondary Schools$ It as ully implemented in !""0 or Secondary Schools and Primary Schools ere in !""1$
3.0
OBJECTIVES OF PPSMI
The idea behind the policy is to change the medium o instruction in teaching and learning process in Science and Mathematics subjects rom Malay to English$ It as based on the go%ernments2 concern on the nation human capital de%elopment toards achie%ing the standard o a de%eloped country' coun try' as ell as an early preparation to compete in the 3ision 3ision !"!"$ It is idely knon that the ield o Science and Mathematics can orm an important basis and ha%e an important role in the progress and groth o a country$ There are %arious inno%ations and disco%eries inspire rom those ields hich happen rapidly and accessible mostly in English$ English English language is a orld language language that being spoken internationally internationally and idely all o%er the
1
orld$ Thus' mastery in this language ould allo easy access in ac4uiring inormation and knoledge in Science and Mathematics ield$ In conclusion' the go%ernment decided to imply PPSMI in order to ensure students2 mastery in science and mathematics in English language$ Besides that' it is ell knon that the act most o the sources and bases are a%ailable in English$ E%entually' it is also hoped that the implementation o PPSMI ould contribute in enhancing and increasing students2 mastery o English language$ 5hen proposing the policy' Tun r$ Mahathir had this opinion that Malaysia6s progress is declining in the age o globali7ation$ Malaysia is desperately in need o proessional ho can speak luently in English yet it as only minority in all$ Then' he as hoping that this policy gi%es a competiti%e edge to the nation in olloing the ootsteps o Singapore and India hich are mo%ing orard because o their optimum utili7ation o the English language$
4.0
IMPLEMENTATION OF PPSMI
The irst batch to apply the PPSMI policy as the !""# students enrolling in Standard + and .orm + in primary and secondary schools respecti%ely$ 8oe%er' students in other grades continued to study Mathematics and Science in the Malay$ PPSMI learning materials ere oered in the orm o packages consisting o these componen ts9 •
Textboo! 9 Basic source or learning on concepts and skills in Science and Mathematics$
•
A"t#$#t% Boo! 9 Supplementary material or students to practice their understanding o
the concepts learned rom te:tbooks$ These ;Buku Latihan dan &kti%iti; or ;BL&; ere pro%ided or students o Standard + only$ •
Te&"'e()! *+#,e 9 Material prepared or teachers as reerence and guide to plan and
implement eecti%e teaching o the Science and Mathematics$
2
•
M% C- or ;Pupil6s *<=>M;9 ;BL&; in the orm o multimedia presentations recorded
in compacts discs and included ith e%ery &cti%ity Book$ The contents consist o an interacti%e games and simulators as ell as electronic tests$ •
Te&"'e()! C-ROM 9 This material is dedicated or teachers to plan and design eecti%e
and attracti%e teaching and learning process in Science and Mathematics subjects$ &mong the contents are 4uestions banks' additional acti%ities as ell as ?=Ls to ebsites ith rele%ance to the subject$ These *s are included in the Teacher6s @uide$ •
S"#e/"e P(&"t#"& Boo 9 It is created and published or students to ensure that Science is
taught theoretically and practically$ •
*o!!&(% Boo 9 & reerence guide containing deinition o terms per%asi%e in Science
and Mathematics$
.0
THE ABOLISHMENT OF PPSMI
>n Ath o%ember !"++ ater a reormation o go%ernment' opposition' parents' scholars' linguists and riters in Malaysia PPSMI ill be abolished in !"+/ or Primary School and !"!+ or Secondary Schools$ The oicial announcement has been made by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Cassin' eputy Prime Minister cum Minister o Education during parliament meeting$ 8oe%er' English ill continues to be a medium language in uni%ersity le%el' matriculation and .orm /$ E%entually' MBMMBI (uphold Bahasa Melayu and to strengthen English language) Policy has been introduced to replace PPSMI$ The ministry is implementing %arious ne initiati%es more eecti%ely to impro%e English proiciency among students in MBMMBI Policy$ The policy consists o the initiati%es is addition period in English class' impro%ement English curriculum in Primary School *urriculum Standard (DSS=)' pro%ision o skilled teachers and 4uality support materials$
3
.0
WHY PPSMI SHOL- BE ABOLISHE-
PPSMI as an education policy that as ormulated in a rush order ithout a preliminary study$ Since proposed by Tun r$ Mahathir Mohammad many parties argued the policy$ There ere some argued about the conse4uences o PPSMI on the position o Malay Language as the national language o Malaysia$ Besides' PPSMI ere unair to students in rural schools' and %iolates the .ederal *onstitution &rticle +!$
.1
PPSMI &5/!t t'e Fe,e(& Co/!t#t+t#o/ A(t#"e 12
&ccording to a Malaysian *onstitution e:pertise and also senior lecturer o ?I&M' Pro r &7i7 Bari' the position o Malay as the national language is %ery clear in &rticle +!$ In this &rticle +!' all the oicial business both at the ederal and state shall be conducted in the national language$ <hough there are e:ceptions to the use o Malay by the Cang di
*on%ention !""/ as also against PPSMI in school because the policy can caused Malay to lose their identity$ .urthermore' *ollaborati%e Malay *ongress (*M*) also urged the go%ernment to re%amp PPSMI$ The members o *M* ill ights or Malay language' culture and literary ith highest respect$
.2
M&/% o"& +/#$e(!#t#e! +!e, E/5#!' &! & 6e,#+6
Malay Language as increasingly inhibited and remo%ed in all the lectures in many uni%ersities and colleges e:cept or some Malay Language and literature classes$ In some uni%ersities' only .aculty o &rts and Social Sciences use the Malay Language as medium$ Especially in IPTS' uni%ersity ere eliminating the teaching o Malay language$ That means' the status o Malay are not being stress to become the idely
4
ean o &rts and Social Sciences .aculty o ?ni%ersiti Malaya (?M)' Proessor r$ Fainal Dling (Tun &bdul @haar Baba *hair) hoped the abolishment o PPSMI can contribute the success o +Malaysia concept by returning to uphold the Malay languages the national language$ PPSMI must be re%amped or remo%ed in order to return the originality in any teachings at all le%els in Malay language$ This ill built people conidence in the go%ernment6s determination to uphold the Malay language and build the nation through the use o a single national language$
.3
PPSMI C(e&t#/5 *&7 bet8ee/ (b&/ &/, R+(& S"'oo!
*annot be denied that PPSMI creating a gap beteen urban and rural school$ Students in rural school ere ha%ing diiculties in using English language hile at home and school they amiliari7ed ith their mothern +#th o%ember !""1' the oicial results are posted about the usage o English Language in Science and Mathematics$ irector @eneral o Education atuk Mohd om &limuddin said that +,'!#A pupils (#+G) ansered Science paper 5
in English' hile Mathematics adding up to !#1$+# pupils (A/G)$8oe%er' this decision as disputed and doubtul by some 4uarters$ &ccording to the President o the Teachers6 ?nion o Peninsular Malaysia' Mohd Sabri Mohd &rshad said that o%er #+$+G o students hom aster the learning o mathematics or science subjects are among those ho li%e in urban and educated amily background$ Students ho li%ed in rural school that used their mother
.4
Te&"'e(!9 P(o:#"#e/"% F&"to(!
There are many reasons hy PPSMI ere opposed by Malaysian people$ Teachers ho teach the PPSMI students ere not ell trained and skilul in English and this lacking o knoledge create problems to the students' school and nation$ Thereore' they are gi%en the opportunity to upgrade their proessionalism by using English as medium in teaching and learning process$ & study o +"'""" schools across the country ere conducted by the researcher especially in rural areas here English as a second language and knon as oreign language$ >nly 1G teachers are conident to teach Science and Mathematics in English$ Schools are acing shortage in skilul and luent teachers ho can teach eecti%ely in English language ithin the subjects$ >nly 1G o the time allocated or PPSMI has been used by teachers in science and mathematics$ This is because teachers remaining i:ed and orced to use the Malay language$ Teachers need to e:plain in Malay
6
.
Re!e&("' F#/,#/5!
There are se%eral studies conducted to conclude the PPSMI issue$ .or e:ample collaborati%e study o the ational Scientiic Bodies (PEMBI&) has conducted a research about The le%el o competency in PPSMI Teachers and Implications or 8uman *apital e%elopment Students2$ This research as in%ol%ing +'"1, people rom dierent type o school and lo o %arious places throughout the country$ There are # teachers' including principals' teachers and school senior assistants ere selected as samples or the analysis carried out or se%en months$ .urthermore' *ollaborati%e study by the ational Ilmuah Body used # specialist e:pertise2s in language and includes se%en public uni%ersities that ere made in -une to ecember !""1 such as ?ni%ersity Putra Malaysia' ?ni%ersiti Teknologi Malaysia' Sultan Idris ?ni%ersity o Education' ?ni%ersiti Sains Malaysia and ?ni%ersiti Teknologi Mara$ This research ound that the policy o teaching and learning Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) ere retarded intelligence le%el o students and reduce uture generation2s interest to learn Science and Mathematics$ This study ound that PPSMI only sho a minimal increase to the English language by our per cent$ The implementation o PPSMI policy as create a double loss to the students' especially the 0G o students ho all into categories medium and eak achie%ement in these three subjects English' Science and Mathematics$ The study concluded that PPSMI should be terminated and go%ernment must restore back the teaching system beore the policy as introduced in !""# hich Malay ere use as medium in Science and Mathematics$ >n +1 March !"",' E:ecuti%e report o this study as irst distributed to the public at the S econd Malay *ultural *ongress organi7ed by the ational 5riters &ssociations (@&PE&)' 8istorical Society o Malaysia and epartment o ational *ulture and &rts Publishing 8ouse (BP) in Duala Lumpur$ In addition' the ineecti%eness o PPSMI policy in Malaysia ha%e been proo rom Trends in International =esearch about Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS !""0) made by the Lynch School o Education' Boston *ollege' Massachusetts' ?S&$ This research in%ol%es , countries including Malaysia in !""0$ &mong the , countries that participated in TIMSS !""0 study' carried out in Lynch School o Education' Boston *ollege' *hestnut 8ill' Massachusetts' ?nited States' some countries achie%ing an a%erage score o students increased slightly or decreased 7
slightly$ The decline in a%erage student achie%ement score o #A points or Malaysia and A" points or Mathematical Sciences is signiicant' according to the report and the largest among the , countries$ The le%el o education in Malaysia ranked !" compare to +" beore the teaching o Mathematics in English and ranked !+ compared to !" in Science$ Based on comparison ith other countries' the percentage o Malaysian students in the three categories o mathematics also declined$ In the category o TIMSS &d%anced Mathematics Benchmark !""0' only to percent o Malaysian students in this category compared ith Taian (AG)' Dorea (A"G)' Singapore (A"G)' -apan (!/G)' 8ungary (+"G)' England and =ussia (1G)' ?nited States (/G) and Serbia (G)$ Based on %arious considerations' the repeal as decided by the *abinet o Malaysia$ Prior to that' Tan Sri Muhyiddin Cassin also seeks the %ies o the pioneer policy in Malaysia' Tun r Mahathir Mohammad$ .urthermore' he also disco%ered the ?ES*> in Paris to seek %ies rom %arious parties$ This research shos that the mastery o student in PPSMI Science and Mathematics use English as medium ere not eecti%e and decrease the achie%ement among students in Malaysia$ TIMSS reports on actors that associated ith achie%ement in mathematics and science at many countries ound that students learn best by using their home language$ @enerally' students ho use their home nati%e language achie%e higher a%erage than students ho study both o these subjects in more than a language$ Thereore' TIMSS indings indicate a close relationship e:ists beteen learning mathematics and science in a oreign language other than their mother (+,1) clearly shos that education in mother tongue is more eecti%e' and second language proiciency can be obtained i the school starts ith the mother tongue as medium o teaching' the subse4uent introduction o a second language as a subject o study$ J>n educational ground' e recommend that the use o the mother +,1)$ 8
Thereore' PPSMI ere not eecti%e to implement in Malaysia because many people un agree ith this policy as this policy ere %iolates the .ederal *onstitution' Malay as national language use as medium$ Based on the records o the Ministry o Education Malaysia' 1, percent o .orm >ne students that ill start their school on -anuary #' !"++ choose to continue learning or science and mathematics in Malay either use ully the Malay language and bilingual language as a medium$ 5hile only ++ G o students choose to study science and mathematics in English$ Based on these percentages' the eputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Cassin said this shoed the go%ernment6s decision o implementing MBMMBI (To ?phold Bahasa Melayu and To Strengthen English Language) to replace the PPSMI$
;.0
CONCLSION
&s a conclusion' PPSMI policy as not accepted by most Malaysians$ Tan Sri Muhyiddin Cassin has acknoledged PPSMI carried out in Malaysia' as a ailure and do not achie%e the aim and policy o the go%ernment in using the Science and Mathematics in English$ Instead he is seen to be more principled in to uphold Bahasa Melayu and to strengthen English Language (MBMMBI)$ Mathematics and Science subjects ill be taught in Bahasa Malaysia in national schools and mother tongue in %ernacular schools (S-D) *hinese and Tamil rom !"+!$ Means that' teaching and learning the to subjects in Bahasa Malaysia ill be held in stages in Cear + and Cear A in primary school and .orm + and .orm A in secondary schools beginning in !"+!$ @o%ernment ill apply ne strategies to uphold Bahasa Malaysia (MBM) and to strengthen the English language (MBI) at all le%els o schooling$ .or e:ample' .orm Si: and Matriculation remain in English and pro%ide bilingual system or students ho are still learning PPSMI until the last batch e:pired in !"+A$ .urthermore' there ill be additional time in the English language and the introduction o English literature at school$
9
REFERENCES
PPSMI$ !"++$ Ministry o Education Malaysia$ http9$moe$go%$myidN+#"HlangNen
Pemansuhan PPSMI Sekolah =endah !"+/' Sekolah Menengah !"!+$http$ $bharian$com$myarticlesPemansuhanPPSMIsekolahrendah!"+0Osekolahmenengah!"!+& rticle $ Berita 8arian Ath o%ember !"!+$
MBMMBI Mampu melahirkan @enerasi .asih Melayu' Inggeris$ Berita 8arian /th -anuary !"++
10