The devil is in the details of PPSMI implementation

COMMENT | Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammed’s announcement of the teaching of science and mathematics in English (PPSMI) has been received with mixed feelings.

The pragmatic-oriented educationists have welcomed the move, but are aware of the real problems of implementation.

However, the opposition is dead against the revival of the PPSMI simply on the grounds of nationalism, because such policy might reduce the importance of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language and the main medium of communication in multi-racial Malaysia.

There are others who think the introduction of PPSMI might contradict with the widely held notion that science and mathematics must be taught in the respective mother tongues of the various ethnic communities in Malaysia.

Mahathir might be right in saying too much nationalism and ethnic bickering might delay the younger generation from coming to terms with the scientific and technological global challenges.

In actuality, it is not so much about the PPSMI policy itself, but why the policy was mooted in 2003 but abandoned seven years later in 2010.

The compromise through the adoption of the Dual Language Program (DLP), though well-intentioned, was fraught with practical difficulties such as the lack of competence among teachers in English to outright opposition from the vernacular and national schools.

The general public is not against well-thought-out educational policies, but what is not understandable is why these are not consistently pursued over time.

Why was PPSMI introduced in 2003 to be abandoned later as a result of the opposition from many quarters.

Mahathir might be right in coming up with this policy, and this is something that needs to be rethought and planned carefully in terms of its implementation.

But what guarantee is there that this policy will be adhered to and implemented later when Mahathir is not around as the prime minister?

In Malaysia, given the extreme and religious tensions, the possibility of rendering good and sound policies null and void is real, especially in the realm of education.

Mahathir’s announcement of PPSMI might be a start but the devil is in the details of implementation.

P RAMASAMY is the deputy chief minister II of Penang and the state assemblyperson for Perai.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.