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More emphasis to be placed on language proficiency in students

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Jan 31, 2013
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In 2011, only 28% of students scored the minimum credit in the SPM English paper againstCambridge 1119 standards. Historically, there have also been quantifiable differences inproficiency in the two major languages, English and Bahasa Malaysia, between different ethnicgroups.The Education Blueprint’s aim is to achieve 100% literacy across the board in both languagesafter 3 years of schooling, with the end target of having 90% of students obtain a minimumcredit in SPM Bahasa Malaysia and 70% obtain a minimum credit in SPM English.To meet these goals, the Education Ministry will introduce a standard Bahasa Malaysiacurriculum in all schools, including national-type schools, starting from the Year 4 cohort in2014. Students that struggle with curriculum change will be given remedial classes.The Blueprint will also extend screening and remedial coaching of the on-going Literacy andNumeracy Programme to include English literacy, and provide upskilling opportunities forlanguage teachers.Some of the Blueprint’s initiatives have met with resistance from parents’ groups, especiallyover the teaching of Science and English in English (PPSMI). These groups are calling for theministry to retain PPSMI as an option.Also, despite the Blueprint stating that Remove classes were to be removed, to be replacedwith the remedial classes, the Prime Minister, after pressure from certain groups, announced inSeptember last year that they would be retained.After innumerable changes to the education system, it seems that the concerned Malaysianpublic is being cautious about what the Education Blueprint will bring.

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