Mathematics and Science in English....Don't Confuse The Students

I failed to understand as why there is a disagreement in the implementation of English in Science and Mathematics. As though, those who were against the implementation don't have kids studying in primary or secondary school. As a father, it should be obvious that we want the best out of our children. Students should be best in both worlds i.e. a good command in English and a good mastering in Mathematics and Science. Again, it is obvious that if we want the best achievement, it should start as as early as possible. The current trend of learning is to introduce reading, writing and arithmetic in the early period of learning stage. A visionary parents will start teaching their children with English words. Professionals and educated parents prefer to converse in English with their children.

2. These are the trend in the society. Educational planners need to study the whole issue in total. There are issues of politics, economics, social and cultures that need to be considered. Parents who teach their children English at home sometimes are more committed to national building issues compare to others because they do care. Those who go for English are not traitors because English is no more the language of the colonials but it is a medium of communication and a medium for trade. The Chinese and Indians community will go for English even if it is a compulsory to pass Bahasa Malaysia in the exam. Again, it is obvious to them if you want to excel, the key ingredient is English. Is it fair to label them as not abiding citizen for failing to use Malay or competent in their usage of Malay? If educated parents go for English, shouldn't we think that those parents in rural areas must do the same to be at par. Is it wise to change the policy and let them rest on their laurels? If we want to change for the better, shouldn't we set for a higher target rather then to set a lower target an dream to get a better achievement? It doesn't compute so to say.

3. Malaysia is moving very fast towards a developed country. The analogy to reach early to any destination is to have a good and fast transport. No matter what it will cost, it is obvious and clear that a good transport is the answer to our dream to be the winner in the competition to reach a destination. Should you question whether you have the budget to buy the transport, skills to handle the vehicle, enough manpower for mobilization or sentimental issues such as love, dignity, pride to stop you from winning? The answer is no. By hook or by crook, no matter how difficult, a good transport is the answer. In this case, when it comes to national building and achievement the answer is the usage of English in critical subjects such as Mathematics and Science.

4. Therefore, if a decision needed to be made..the most important group to respond are the actual stakeholders i.e. the end users that will benefit most form the policy. In the Malaysian context, the business community should be given the due recognition and respect of their opinions. Business community knows what is best and should be done to our future generations. Business community determines the comfort, conducive environment and security living in our own country without interference of foreign elements.

5. If there is a resistance from Malay linguistic professors, it is obvious that their position are now being challenged because of the new policy. They will be seen as losers for not fighting their cause. If they were really sincere in their disagreement, the objections should have come earlier and not at this moment whereby the momentum of implementation is big. It is not wrong to go for Bahasa Malaysia. More importantly is whether it will bring benefits for Malaysians as a whole or not. Researchers in field of science is important and beneficial to the world scientific community. The question is whether it is beneficial to the community, whether there is a market value for the research and whether the investment incurred will give profitable returns. At the end of the day, it is a dollar and sense issues. A strong and wealthy Malay will be able to take care their language better rather than a weak and poor Malay. A good command in English doesn't mean that it will make them less Malay. What if he can speak good Malay during the United Nation's meeting or sing a Malay song in the Royal Albert hall of London ? Isn't that the achievements that we want out of the usage of Malay language?

6. Mathematics and Science in English is actually about implementations and not because of inabilities of rural students. It is about teachers that need to double their effort and given a proper re numerations for their effort. It is about ample time frame. More importantly, it is about a 'no turning back' in the policy. If there is one, I'm not surprise if there are teachers who prey that the government goes back to the old policy that will lessen their burden. Never in the history of national education policy whereby teachers are supplied with computers that changed their way of teaching. If it is about a competition mode, teachers should understand their role. Name to us your price, as long as you can produce students who excel in Mathematics and Science in English.

7. National policy should be discussed by committees and those concern parties in the issues. Once it goes to the street, there must be something wrong about it. You don't mix important decisions with emotions. Even if it is under the purview of the Minister of Education, the Prime Minister should be given the prerogative to decide what is best for the nation. As the leader of the country, every planning must fall into the right place. The decision is not with the cabinet, but the decision is best being left to the prime minister alone and for him to decide.

8. Students are just like white clothes. We should decide what is best for them. It is a learning process. They will learn what is being given to them. White cloth is the basics and you can turn them into red, black or any other colour. As in a batik printing, it can turn to any design and forms. The most importance is consistency, the right mix and the direction you are going. In this 'mathematics and science in English issue' we need a clear conscience. As a father..don't confuse your kids......

Politicians or Civil Servants ?

When Tun Mahathir came into office, I was in a boarding school in Kelantan. Even it seems years had passed by..the word of Bersih, Cekap, Amanah...still lingers in my ears...The changing of time (Peninsular following Sabah and Sarawak) making it earlier..too early to send kids to school and good to go out early and managed to have a round of golf in the evening..punch card..name tag..and so on.. I realised that it is about the work culture that he is trying to tackle with..when it comes to Pak Lah..it is about Cemerlang, Gemilang and Terbilang..nothing much can be seen on the changing of work ethics..nothing much that can really touched and reached the mass..and now..with Najib..it is about 'Satu Malaysia, Rakyat Diutamakan, Pencapaian Di dahulukan'....still.. where's the details on work ethics ?.....Politicians going to the ground..ok..no red carpet..ok..But...What about those bosses in the government department ? Are they doing the same on their own? I've yet to see one..frankly..

Therefore, to achieve greatness in running the country, it is the government machinery that matters..if it is about efficiency and efficacy....it is the government servant that should deliver..politicians come with ideas and government servants come with ways and means to achieve the ideas.. Even if it is about corruption..is it not wise to really double check what actually transpire between the monitoring body (civil servants) and contractors..or if it is within the private sector, between the borrower and authorities approving the loan? Or should we accept giving out commissions as a legal and acceptable norm in the community..

What 'Satu Malaysia' should go further and focus more is on the working culture..the re branding of the working culture of civil servants must be there to ensure success. Politicians used to be the 'check and balance' group to ensure all is well with the implementation and quality of work..unfortunately politicians seem toothless now days..civil servants cannot be transferred out easily for their wrong doings..politicians are being seen as 'leaders come and goes' but civil servants stay.....The immunity of a civil servant is seem to be more powerful and untouchable now days..The major difference on perks...If politicians do get benefits from any projects..it will be passed back to the community in the form of programs or donations..However if civil servants do get benefits..it goes to their pockets and not the community.... Since politicians are considered the 'boss', they need to be answerable... but the officer in charge (of the wrong doing) usually free from any charges...the bad perception will go to the politicians..

If you were to asked me.I would rather choose a politician...because most of the time the public will be the judge for their wrong doings and can be punished easily...civil servants ? Anybody dare to touch them ? They'll go for a different political party if you dare..The question now..if there is a setback in a government project..who should we blame to? ....Politicians or Civil Servants?

Just do your job BN..

As expected..PKR won in Penanti..what's the big deal? The status quo..if PKR,DAP and PAS won in the 2008 election..there are chances that they won again..but definitely they cannot win in Batang Ai or other BN's strong hold..demoralised..no..but BN members are keeping their tempers down..and it is quiet damaging that even revelations of the 'so called' bribery doesn't carry weight at all. Some even accused that the incident is being planned? What about the 'Lingham case' ...another well planned recording? One thing for sure..political followers now days follow their leaders blindly..the were hooked by their believed that their leaders are somehow sacred. Remember about the Al-Arqam movement..and how they were given continuous counselling for them to repent? Don't tell me politicians and the public need to be counselled? Paranoia..that BN will loose..no!..worried that BN will not get support..no! but Malaysians must start thinking and look at a bigger prospective and a broader angle..the right formula is being held by BN all these years..opposition..whether they want it or not.will try to emulate what BN has been doing since independence!

What's the solution then? To understand what's going on is simple..Use an analogy. If there is a fight between an incumbent and incoming candidate..what will the incoming candidate does? The choices that he got is only two..one you must show that you are good or better than the incumbent..secondly you need to tell everybody that the incumbent is incapable and failed in his duty..even if you don't have the prove..you need to provoke the incumbent..by hook or crook.. similarly between BN and PR (not registered)..PR cannot use the first strategy because BN is here since Independence and a lot of good deeds has been shown by BN..development..achievement in economy..achievement in the international arena and issues...etcetra..so what were left for them is to show how bad BN is..bombardment of 'lies'..continuous preaching of BN weaknesses...'facts' are immaterial because it is 'perception' and 'branding' that matters..

My advice to BN..just do your job..the 'rakyat' is always with you..you control the parliament..you still have the majority..why should you worry? One might say that your support is from Sabah and Sarawak..so what ?..majority is majority..just do your job..the majority of the rakyat is still sensible , reasonable and they are not insane..therefore when PKR, PAS and DAP talked about 'rakyat' ...I wonder which rakyat were they referring to?