The Re-reversal from English to Bahasa Malaysia

Abstract

This chapter discusses the reasons for the re-reversal in the medium of instruction for Science and Mathematics from English to Bahasa Malaysia in 2008. In 2009, the cabinet announced that these two subjects would be taught in Bahasa Malaysia in national schools and in the vernacular languages in Chinese and Tamil schools from 2011 onwards. There were several reasons for the change put forward by the government which are discussed and analysed. These include some “empirical studies” cited by the government which showed that the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (henceforth PPSMI) disadvantaged certain groups of students, the varying levels of English competency of the teachers and the students, the lack of time for proper training and for the implementation of the program and the failure of the PPSMI to improve English language proficiency among students. In concluding, the chapter discusses the strong responses of certain groups who want the PPSMI to be retained and an analysis of some of the more covert reasons why it was scrapped.