Globalization and Its Impact on the Medium of Instruction In Higher Education in Malaysia

Abstract

Understanding bilingualism in science and mathematics education and developing a principled instruction is a pressing issue in Malaysian system of education. With the implementation of government policy of teaching science and mathematics in English starting from year 2003, an increasing number of students are affected with this policy. An initial study has been undertaken to examine the view of instructors from two public universities in Malaysia. A total of 175 respondents comprise of professors, associate professors and lecturers from eleven faculties participated in the research. In the context of Malaysia, even though the dilemma was due to governmental initiatives, it is important to raise the consciousness of the bilingual educator and to liberate their view of bilingual education beyond a simple governmental definition or a single societal perspective.