Gerakan Education bureau statements on Teaching of Science and Maths

Update: This is the statement I issued today on our party Stand on the teaching of Maths and Science in English at the primary school level.

Malaysiakini(Chinese) has carried the statement in this link.

Merdekareview carried the statement in this link.

The statements are self explanatory:

1.     I refer to the media reports on the 5^th round table meeting to  discuss the teaching of Science and  mathematics in English which was organized by the Ministry of Education.

 

2.     Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Central Education and Knowledge Society Bureau would like to reiterate the stand of Parti Gerakan on this issue; We believe strongly that the teaching of Science and Mathematics at primary level should be conducted in mother tongue.  At the same time, the teaching of English as a subject at primary level should be improved.

 

3.     English, however, can be used in the teaching of Science and Mathematics at the secondary school and tertiary levels, provided there are sufficient qualified teaching staff to do so.

 

4.     Our position has been consistent since 2002. We have submitted a memorandum on our position in 2002, and again in 2005 to the present Education Minister. Since this issue is of utmost importance, we  shall submit once again another memorandum on this position of  ours.

 

5.     Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, as a people orientated party, has always viewed education as one of the most important elements in nation building, and would be happy to take part in any discussion on educational issues as well as any issue affecting the interest of Malaysian people.

 

 

6.     We therefore wish to express our regret that Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia did not receive any invitation to this 5^th  round table meeting, although according to media reports, about 200 representatives from various political parties and NGOs were invited.

 

7.     While there was no official invitation extended to Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, we find it strange that according to feedback from other participants, there were seats reserved  for our party.

 

8.     We discovered that some BN component parties such as SUPP were also not invited despite having designated seats for the parties.

 

9.     We feel that this will create a negative perception for the parties affected. We would like to  strongly urge the Minister of Education  to carry out a thorough investigation and give us an answer on this matter, and we hope that the same thing would not happen again in future.

 

10. Notwithstanding this, we shall continue to voice our position directly to the Minister of Education as well as to the public.

 

 

文告

 

1.    有關媒體報道, 由教育部所組辦的第5次英文教數理科政策圓桌會議,已于昨日舉行.  民政黨中央教育及知識社會局, 要在此重申民政黨對這項課題的立場.

 

2.    民政黨向來主張, 在小學階段, 應以母語教導數理科. 在此同時, 英語的教導和水平, 也需加強和提升.

 

 

3.    民政黨也認為, 在中學和大學階段, 如有足夠師資, 則可應用英語教導數理.

 

4.    民政黨立場, 一貫如此. 我黨曾在2002年, 呈上一份備忘錄, 表明我黨的這一項立場. 也在2005年, 再次的提呈同一備忘錄,給于現任教育部長. 基于這課題的重要性, 我黨將會再一次 的, 提呈這備忘錄給有關當局.

 

 

5.    作為一個以民為本的政黨, 民政黨非常關注教育問題, 也非常樂意出席討論有關教育方面的會議.

 

6.    故此, 民政黨感到非常遺憾, 第5次英文教數理科政策圓桌會議, 我黨并沒有接到邀請.

 

 

7.    更奇怪的是, 雖然民政黨并沒有被邀請, 在圓桌會議上, 卻有準備給民政黨代表的席位.

8.    一些國陣成員黨, 如SUPP, 也面對同樣的情形.

 

 

9.    我黨認為, 這種情形, 會給人民一種錯覺. 有基于此, 我黨希望我們尊敬的教育部長, 能徹底調查這宗事件, 給我們一項合理的交代. 我們也希望, 同樣事件, 不會再發生.

 

10.雖然如此, 我黨將繼續直接向我國教育部長和全國人民, 表明我黨對這課題的立場.

Press statements by Education Bureau, PGRM

The following is the statement of Gerakan’s education Bureau in response to datuk Mukriz’s suggetion to convert vernacular schools into national schools.

English

Press Statement by Dr Hsu Dar Ren,

Chairman ,Education and Knowledge Society Bureau

Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia

 

 

 

1. Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia’s National Education Bureau strongly objects to  the proposal by Datuk Mukriz Mahathir to abolish all  Chinese and Tamil schools, for all to be converted into national schools.

 

2. We would like to remind Datuk Mukriz that mother tongue education is the right of all Malaysians under Federal Constitution Article 152 (1) (a)and (b). Hence the existence of vernacular schools  is guaranteed under the Constitution. 

 

3. Racial polarization has more to do with politicians using race to fan feelings of deprivation and discrimination . The purpose is to gain popularity and attention, especially during internal party elections. than to put the blame on the existence of such schools.

 

4. Putting the blame on the existence of vernacular schools as the cause of polarization is totally uncalled for and would  only cause further  polarization .

 

5. Datuk Mukriz’s statement also runs counter to the Education Act 1996, which recognizes the fundamental principle of a Malaysian parent’s right to choose vernacular education for his or her children.

 

6. He has also gone against all manifestos of BArisan Nasional in past elections guaranteeing the continued existence and development of Chinese and Tamil schools.

 

 

7. We want to put on record that vernacular schools have contributed much in the process of nation building. To question and negate the existence of such schools is damaging to the concept of unity in diversity, as the very strength and foundation of our nation.

 

8. We urge Datuk Mukriz to retract this statement in the interest of the unity of the people, as well as unity of BN.

 

 Chinese version:

民政黨教育及知識社會局主任

徐達人醫生

 

 

 

文告

 

民政黨中央教育及知識社會局, 強烈反對Datuk Mukriz 的建議 , 要政府采用單一教育制度, 并接管華小及所有類型小學, 改為國小.

 

我們要提醒 Datuk Mukriz, 華小及所有類型小學的存在, 是憲法下所保障的, 不應一而再的, 受到任何人的質疑.

 

種族兩極化的原因, 應歸罪于一些喜愛利用種族課題作為政治資本的政客, 尤其在所隸屬政黨黨選期間, 挑起種族課題, 以達到個人目的.

 

我們要再次的提醒 Datuk Mukriz, 在 聯邦憲法下 152 條 (1) (a)和 (b), 學習母語教育, 是每個馬來西亞公民的基本權力. Datuk Mukriz 的言論, 會使種族兩極化的問題, 加劇惡化.

 

我們感到遺憾,  Datuk Mukriz 的言論, 違反了1996 教育法令, 和 國陣歷屆大選宣言對人民所作出的承諾, 保障華小及所有類型小學的操作和存在.

 

華小及所有類型小學的存在,  對于國家和社會, 有極大的貢獻. 我們認為 Datuk Mukriz 的言論, 對于一個多元種族社會, 是具于極大的破壞性.

 

我們希望Datuk Mukriz, 基于國家團結利益上, 把這建議撤回.