Blame it on political decision to sideline English
Published on: Sunday, March 24, 2024
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Wider use of English in public schools will not undermine the use of Malay as the national language.
The Razak Report is the most influential of the pre-independence reports.
Tun Abdul Razak, then the education minister, laid out comprehensive proposals for the reform of Malayan education, including the establishment of a national education system, the adoption of Malay as the national language of instruction, and promotion of unity and integration among the country’s diverse ethnic groups.
Unfortunately, the Razak Report has been hijacked by some for political interest, leaving no room for other international languages like English to be widely used in public schools, for example.
The political decision not to use English in public schools has resulted in the closing of Malaysian minds and the decline in the quality of education in the country.
Recent reports from the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the poor performance of our primary school students in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) as well as our position in the global university rankings provide evidence of this decline.
No number of denials by some of our esteemed educationists can reverse this adverse global perception.
Performance in Pisa and the university ranking scores should be used as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the education ecosystem. Alongside other measures like qualitative data, persistent low performance in Pisa and low rating scores in university rankings can imply a lot about the quality and competitiveness of our education system.
In the case of university rankings, for example, it may imply the poor calibre of faculty members or insufficient research output like publications, citations and patents. It could also be due to inadequate funding support.
The global ranking system for universities must not be taken lightly. While it provides valuable insights into the relative standing of universities, the low scores can have an influence on stakeholders, industries, employment agencies as well as government agencies.
Having taught locally and worked abroad, I think a wider usage of English in public schools will go a long way in promoting the quality of education and knowledge in Malaysia. It can also be used to lure investors to our shores and enhance our competitiveness.
Proficiency in English equips not only students but also bureaucrats, businessmen, policymakers and the rakyat with strong communication skills, both written and oral.
These skills are essential for effective collaboration, knowledge sharing and networking on a global scale.
Wider use of English in public schools will not undermine the use of Malay as the national language.
Ba Hamzah
- The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express.
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