English or Bahasa Malaysia?

The policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English has put our country’s education system in a dilemma. Some educationists support while some are against it.

Over the years, we have seen that English Language is a widespread and important language in the world.

The reasons for the demand of English have surely become clear. To put it bluntly, English is a top requirement for those seeking jobs. It is often the language in which most of the business of “good job” is conducted. Also, one needs it for access to at least one half of the world’s scientific literature. It is also the universal language of aviation, shipping and sport. Therefore, English is a considerable degree of universal of literacy and public communication.

The fear of English, which regard as a legacy of British Colonialism, the teaching, learning and promotion of the English Language as something unpatriotic are clearly misplaced and need to be rectified.

It is essential for the government to adopt a practical and open-minded approach towards any language which can contribute to our country’s progress, and at the same time, ensuring Bahasa Malaysia as the country’s official and national language.

The poor proficiency in English Language, especially those in the rural areas should not be the reason to reverse the current policy. Instead, they should realize the importance of English Language and work hard to improve on their grasp of English proficiency. They could not escape from the reality. It is only with a good grasp of English, our country is then able to survive and keep up with its global pace at this cutting-edge technology era.

Remember, improving the standard of English will not diminish the importance of our national language. Instead, being bilingual or even trilingual is an unwritten requirement for social and professional competence in this modern age.