[NEW UPDATE] Education Minister Called Ridiculous & Defensive After This Statement
The Education Ministry has big plans to reform the nation's education system with the National Education Blueprint (NEB) 2013 - 2025 despite opposition from Chinese educations groups saying that the NEB will threaten the state of vernacular schools.
By Mei Mei Chu — 11 Sep 2013, 01:14 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok says a minister must not make such ridiculous comments
DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok also responded by pointing out nobody expects all government policies to please everyone. "But a minister must not make such ridiculous comments," Kok said in a statement.
themalaysianinsider.com
"Idris must remember that it is the government's responsibility to plan and implement as well as to 'sell' its polices. It must be able to 'sell' by way of persuasion and debate," she added.
Kok, the Seputeh MP, had a sharper retort for the minister. "Will Idris Jusoh tell Mahathir to send his grandchildren overseas to study?" she asked.
themalaysianinsider.com
Parents Action Group for Education (PAGE) says Idris Jusoh's statement was very defensive
Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh came under fire for telling parents they had an option of sending their children abroad if they are unhappy with the local education system.
"It was a very defensive statement (by the minister). A lot of us save up, do away with a lot of things to give the best to our children," said Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, chairman of the Parents Action Group for Education (PAGE).
themalaysianinsider.com
"Those who can afford to send their children overseas do so because they want to give them a better education. Majority of the parents, however, cannot afford to do that," Noor Azimah told The Malaysian Insider.
"As a minister, he shouldn't be saying that. It is adding fuel to the fire. There are a thousand ways to address the question," said NUTP president Hashim Adnan.
Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh says there is no stopping the implementation of the National Education Blueprint (NEB)
Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh says there is no stopping the implementation of the National Education Blueprint (NEB).
Image via nkkhoo.comThose who have no confidence in the country’s education system as outlined in the National Education Blueprint can send their children to study abroad, said Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.
themalaysianinsider.com
“If some people feel the system is not good and want to send their children overseas to study, the government cannot stop them. But the Ministry will work towards improving the country’s education system. There will no stopping us from implementing the National Education Blueprint." said Idris.
“We cannot please everyone, we have our own objective and we will continue to implement it. It is not my own decision before we come up with this blueprint; we have sat down with thousands of experts,”
“We have 12 years of plan. The national language should be used as a communication medium for everyone in this country,” he said.
“If we withdraw parts here and there, the plan will not succeed. The government will continue to implement the programme as launched on Sept 6, by Deputy Prime Minister cum Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin,” he told reporters.
themalaymailonline.com
Chinese education groups are worried that vernacular schools will be threatened with the implementation of the NEB
Chinese education groups are worried that vernacular schools will be threatened with the implementation of the NEB
Image via themalaysianinsider.comThe education movement objects to the plan to increase the teaching hours of Bahasa Malaysia for years 4, 5 and 6 to 270 minutes a week from 180 minutes.
They claimed that the 60-minute increase for Bahasa Melayu (BM) lessons to 240 minutes per week under the blueprint was a step towards the government's ultimate aim of a monolingual education policy.
The National Union of Heads of Schools and Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers Association), which along with Hua Zong (Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia) and MCA wanted the BM hours to be capped at 210 minutes a week, also said they would continue their fight against the longer BM hours.
"What we are actually trying to make the government understand is that multi-stream schools are a product of the multi-culturalism and racial diversity in Malaysia,” said Vice-president Chow Siew Hon.
themalaysianinsider.com
DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok said the move to raise the BM lesson hours from 180 to 240 minutes has obviously ignored the wishes of the Chinese community and will be met with strong objections.
Dong Zong is opposing the NEB via signature campaigns, roadshows, peaceful assemblies and may even sue the government
Dong Zong is opposing the NEB via signature campaigns, roadshows, peaceful assemblies and may even sue the government
Image via mkini.netIdris was commenting on Dong Zong’s proposal to hold a peaceful assembly if the plan was seen as adversely affecting the position of the Chinese language in national education.
abnxcess.com
Dong Zong opposes the blueprint, seeing it as a step to realise the government's ultimate objective of implementing the monolingual education policy. "One option is to sue the government," he said, adding that the other was to protest, including holding a mammoth peaceful rally.
Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association), which is conducting a signature campaign against the National Education Blueprint (NEB), may call for a boycott of classes when the time is ripe. For now, it will carry on with its anti-NEB signature campaign and roadshow.
Education Minister admits that the standard of English taught by English teachers here is at an alarming level
Meanwhile, Idris Jusoh admitted that the standard of English used by English teachers is still at a worrying level as only one third of them passed the Cambridge Placement Test last year.
Recently, it was revealed that about 70% out of the 60,000 English Language teachers, who sat for the English Language Cambridge Placement Test, performed poorly.
thestar.com.myAbout two-thirds of English Language teachers here have been classified as “incapable” or “unfit” to teach the subject in schools. “The ministry will also consider sending them overseas for exchange programmes to take up Teaching of English as a Second Language courses”.
thestar.com.myAn overview of the National Education Blueprint 2013-2025
The new National Education Blueprint was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on September 6.
themalaysianinsider.com
The education transformation is to take place over 13 years from this year to 2025 with a review to be carried out once in every five years beginning 2015.
nst.com.my
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