Tears Filling Up Their Glasses

I don't understand this Maths and Science in English issue.

It's just the language problem, is it? Why do they need to make it into a political issue? All these bullshit about teaching Maths and Science in English is killing all the mother tongues of each race. You heard me, it's utter BULLSHIT.

1. Learning or teaching Maths and Science in English does not kill your mother tongue.

I'm sure you learn other subjects like Living Skills and Kajian Tempatan in Chinese or Tamil if you're in a national type school (SJK); or in Malay if you're in a national school (SK). So how can it kill your command in your mother tongue?

It is your mother tongue, right? Don't you speak it at home? Don't you speak it with your friends? You can't put all hopes on teachers and the education system, you know. Sometimes we have to learn things by ourselves, independantly. We are in an independant country, aren't we?

2. It isn't a political issue.

It is an issue concerning the students. Why are these politicians arguing like monkeys basing this issue on politics and the Federal Constitution instead of basing it on the welfare of the students? Start discussing it on the foundation of what is good for the students and what is not. Seriously, they are behaving like children, our politicians. Not only in this but also in the Perak maelstrom.

Why don't you ask the students? Do a survey or something. You're the adults and the leaders, not us. THINK like an adult and a leader, not like a housewife haggling with a fishmonger. It is for the students' sake, not for your party's sake. Ask your children, observe their progress in Maths and Science subjects, compare and contrast the pros and cons. Don't jump to the conclusion, it's not like you're in a rush, or are you?

By raving like a mad person does not win the hearts of the people. Politicians and leaders, of all people should know that. Quoting Nelson Mandela: "I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant for you, the people." That is the spirit a leader should have.

3. Put yourself in the student's shoes.

As for me, I was educated in a Chinese national type school, SJK (C). We had only 3 periods of English each week, and the textbook was atrocious, being only around 50 pages with loads of pictures and featuring English we learned in kindergarten. English was thought to be unimportant back then. Then in Year 3, one person realised his mistake and we had 5 periods of English per week.

Maths and Science were taught in Malay/Chinese/Tamil. The UPSR Maths and Science paper had 2 sides, English and Malay/Chinese/Tamil. We answered in Chinese because no one taught us how we were supposed to answer in English, the key words, terms, etc. After the exam, my Science teacher started to teach us the English terms we use in Science, saying that we will be studying Maths and Science in English in secondary school.

As with most of my classmates, I entered a national secondary school. Thankfully, we have Chinese Language teachers there, so I can still study Chinese and take the papers for PMR and SPM. Learning Maths and Science in English was difficult for some, a piece of cake for some. But we went through it for 5 years, didn't we? And we finished the race well.

It is actually a relief to me, studying these subjects in English, because most of us aim for universities in America and in Europe. Even if we do end up studying in local universities, they are using English for every subject, except linguistics of course. So isn't it better to study Maths and Science in English?

4. Learn from other countries.

I think, regardless of what subject we study Maths and Science in, it is for every student to be taught in the same language, 1 language: either Malay or English. Another thing I don't understand is, why must there be so many types of schools? Why can't we be like Singapore, America, UK and China? Private or national, they follow the same system.

They teach everything in English, excluding languages, in Singapore, America and UK. In China, it is Chinese in everything except during English classes. I find that this promotes unity, especially in a multi-racial country like ours and Singapore. With that, there won't be a problem like the one we're facing now.

5. You can't deny that it is a funny piece of news.

It is really hillarious to see it in the newspapers: "Yes or no to Maths and Science in English? Ministers will come to conclusion in 6 months time."

6 months. 6 months. 6 months. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I think the other world leaders and laughing as well.