Negeri Sembilan MB Says Students Should Not Be "Guinea Pigs" For English-Taught Subjects
"There is no country that teaches mathematics and science in English where the language is not the mother tongue."
By Jia Vern Tham — 06 Mar 2018, 01:16 PM
Yesterday, 5 March, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan claimed that there is a "big gap" in the mastery of the English language between rural and urban students
Mohamad said the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) policy has shown that rural pupils have difficulties learning those two subjects in English.
He was speaking at the officiating ceremony of Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Warisan Puteri and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Warisan Puteri in Seremban yesterday.
Although Mohamad admitted that English is an international language, he claimed that no country teaches mathematics and science in a language which isn't their mother tongue
"English is an international language and the language of knowledge," Mohamad said.
"Pupils in primary and secondary schools can learn it, but not by the teaching of science and mathematics because these are difficult subjects," he added.
Mohamad also said students should not be assessed by their mastery of the English language
Mohamad said the opposition may reinstate the PPSMI policy if they wished to do so. However, he does not want students to be used as an experiment for the policy.
"I do not want them to use the children as guinea pigs," he said.
Sinar Harian reported that previously, Pakatan Harapan did not rule out the possibility to reintroduce PPSMI if they win GE14.