KUALA LUMPUR: Schools that implement the dual language programme (DLP) still need to achieve the basic level of mastery of Bahasa Melayu, said the Education Ministry.
Its minister, Fadhlina Sidek, said it was important for schools to meet all criteria before implementing DLP, including proficiency in the Malay language.
"At the same time, mastery of the mother tongue needs to be preserved as the core for vernacular schools," she said in a statement today.
She said based on the ministry's 2021 DLP implementation guidelines dated Nov 26, 2020, DLP schools must ensure that other students' opportunities to learn science and mathematics in the national language or their mother tongue would not be affected.
Fadhlina also said state education departments are overseeing the management of DLP implementation.
She added that schools could open more than one DLP class based on their readiness as assessed by the district education office and the state education department.
"The approval of DLP implementation is subject to the decision of the Education Ministry based on the case of each school.
"The Education Ministry takes a humanitarian approach where students from the existing cohorts are still allowed to continue with DLP classes.
"However, the school must still comply with the existing guidelines for the new cohort of Year One and Form One students in the 2024/2025 session."
She said the state education department would then be responsible for mapping the acceptor secondary schools to ensure each primary school student in the cohort could continue learning in DLP classes in secondary schools.
"The Education Ministry will continue to monitor and provide information on the implementation of DLP to school administrators as needed.
"We are open to suggestions and needs for further initiatives from the community, including holding dialogue sessions with stakeholders.
On Nov 19, the NST reported that Year One students in four DLP schools were grappling with their science and mathematics studies following a directive to switch the teaching medium from English to Bahasa Melayu overnight.
At present, the Education Ministry has permitted the full implementation of the DLP in five schools, namely, SK Convent Bukit Nanas (1), SK Bukit Damansara, SJK(T) Vivekananda, SJK(T) Segambut, and SJK(T) Ladang Edinburgh.