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DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng said it would be ironic if the previous Perikatan Nasional-Barisan Nasional (PN-BN) government is seen as being more progressive or reformist than the present unity government in respecting parental choice in the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English under the dual language programme (DLP).
In renewing his call for the Education Ministry to adopt the practice of the previous PN-BN government in respecting parental choice in the teaching of the two subjects in English without interference or restrictions, he said respecting and honouring parental choice will help to democratise education to serve the wishes of parents.
“Democratising education is one important reform of an open and progressive education system,” the Bagan MP said.
His remarks came on the heels of a dispute between the school boards and Parent-Teacher Associations of 11 conforming secondary schools in Penang and the Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek over the DLP programme in the state.
Parents in those schools want to retain the ability to choose whether their children are taught Science and Mathematics in English after the latest DLP circular required at least one class in the school to be taught in Bahasa Malaysia before other classes can be taught in English.
These schools had, however, stated that almost all the parents, including Malay ones, want their children to be taught the two subjects in English under the DLP.
As a consequence, these schools are unable to find sufficient students to meet the requirement of at least one class taught in Bahasa Malaysia.
Lim had, on March 5 in parliament, urged Putrajaya to respect parents’ choice in the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English under the programme.
Pointing his finger at Bersatu information chief Razali Idris, he said opposition politicians should stop politicising or putting a racial slant on this request by the schools in Penang when his leader supports the parental choice of students being taught Science and Mathematics in English without any conditions or restrictions.
The leader he was alluding to was the Bersatu MP for Indera Mahkota, Saifuddin Abdullah.
Lim said Saifuddin had “expressed full support” for his call to continue the previous PN-BN government’s practice of respecting parental choice for a DLP in English without any conditions.
“The pertinent issue is continuing the previous PN-BN government’s policy of DLP in English without any conditions or restrictions, which Razali supported and did not object when it was implemented by his government.”
Lim also took a dig at Umno Youth chief Muhamad Akmal Saleh for “trying to play the hero and politicise the controversy when none exists”.
He asked why Akmal did not protest the practice of respecting parental choice when it was implemented by the PN-BN government. – June 7, 2024.