22 Nov 2007
Congratulations to the NST’s Syed Nadzri and Zainul Ariffin for the two recent articles on Mathematics and Science teaching in schools (“Fix the flaws, don’t scrap system???, NST Nov 20) and English medium schools (“Room for English-medium schools???, NST Nov 21). In my judgment, these two policy measures – continuing with the teaching of Maths and Science in English and permitting the establishment of English medium schools as part of the national system – are probably the most important ones necessary to ensure that the nation’s children remain competitive in a rapidly shrinking global economy. Delaying these policy reforms will not only cost our young dearly in the world of business, industry, science and technology. They will also ensure that the politicized and communal bigots and hotheads in our country will again have their way. I hope all stakeholders – especially the professionals in the Ministry of Education – read the two articles carefully and arrive at the correct decision. Few, as yet, seem to realize how linked or dependent our future as a nation is to the implementation of these two critical policy reforms.
Dr. Lim Teck Ghee