PPSMI: Allow schools the English option

2009/11/09

DATIN NOOR AZIMAH ABDUL RAHIM for Parent Action Group for Education

IN his blog, the prime minister has rejected the idea of a single-stream school system because the people are not ready for it.

But are the people ready or do they accept the abolition of the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (PPSMI) in national schools?

A survey by Parent Action Group for Education (Page) last year showed that 95 per cent of parents wanted PPSMI to be continued.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in his blog, polled 84 per cent against the decision to abolish PPSMI.

Even the Education Ministry's telephone survey showed more than 90 per cent of callers wanted it to go on.

Recently, parents from seven schools in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya returned a majority of 94 per cent and 98 per cent respectively to continue with PPSMI.

We thank the prime minister for respecting the spirit of the Education Act 1996, which calls for children to be educated according to the wishes of their parents.

We hope he will honour their wishes by giving our national schools the option to choose or reject PPSMI.

Page appeals to the education minister to allow that option and let parents make known their wishes through a meeting of their parent-teacher associations.