pywong
14th October 2011, 07:19 PM
PAGE finds ally in fight for PPSMI (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/13/page-finds-ally-in-fight-for-ppsmi/)
Stephanie Sta Maria (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/author/stamaria/)
| October 13, 2011[/COLOR]
PAGE and JMM are linking arms in urging the government to listen to parents who want English as optional instruction language in schools.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG01338-20111013-1120-300x225.jpg
(http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/13/page-finds-ally-in-fight-for-ppsmi/img01338-20111013-1120/)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Parents Action Group for Education (PAGE) has reached a significant milestone with Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) deciding to join forces with it in supporting the teaching of Maths and Science in English (PPSMI).
For the past three years PAGE has been a lone voice in fighting to retain the PPSMI which will be replaced by the policy of Upholding the Malay Language and Strengthening Command of English (MBMMBI) next year.
While its mission won strong support from within the urban communities, PAGE was acutely aware of its challenge in reaching out to the rural areas.
Its partnership with JMM will now enable both groups to draw out the voices of the rural Malays – a community which the government is paying close attention to in the run up to the next general election.
Both groups held their first meeting two weeks ago and their first joint press conference this morning.
“We knew that we were lacking a presence in the rural areas and that the government viewed us as an urban elite socety,” PAGE chairman, Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, told the media.
PAGE also won the unexpected support of Perkasa which published a full page editorial backing the continuation of the PPSMI.
“We had approached (Perkasa chief) Ibrahim (Ali) last August to explain our mission to him but he told us that Perkasa has always remained neutral,” Azimah. “We were satisfied with that response so this is surprise!”
Concerns of Malay parents
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG01339-20111013-1120-225x300.jpg (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/13/page-finds-ally-in-fight-for-ppsmi/img01339-20111013-1120/)JMM meanwhile explained that it decided to join PAGE after the findings of a survey it conducted four months ago matched PAGE’s mission.
According to JMM president, Azwanddin Hamzah, Malay parents had voiced three main concerns over the abolishment of the PPSMI.
“First is that they won’t be able to send their children overseas,” he said. “Second is that work manuals are written in English. And third is that they want their children to seek employment in the international market.”
“The PPSMI is a good move by (former premier) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) and the Education Ministry cannot can’t simply abolish it just because it doesn’t know how to properly implement it.”
Both groups are calling on the Education Ministry to consent for the PPSMI to be included as an option as stated in the Education Act 1996.
\
They added that their individual survey findings have shown that a large number of parents still wanted the PPSMI to be continued and urged the government to consider these views.
According to Azimah even schools in Lembah Keramat and Shah Alam revealed support ratings of 68% and 80% respectively for the PPSMI.
“The impact of abolishing the PPSMI is finally hitting the parents,” said Azimah. “And so we want the Education Ministry to be transparent and forthcoming with them on any further information it has regarding this issue.”
Taking the initiative
She further noted that parents were discarding their previous apathy and were bolder in voicing out their concerns and dissatisfaction via the media.
“But they have to play their part at the ground level too,” she stated. “PAGE has its boundaries and we can’t talk to individual principals on parents’ behalf.”
“If parents want the PPSMI retained they should let the principal know and show him or her the Act. If they are ignored then they should conduct their own survey and show those results to the principal.”
“If nothing changes then they should bring it to the media. One step at the time, this is how PAGE has operated too.”
PAGE and JMM will be holding a larger press conference with other groups who support the PPSMI on Oct 25. Azimah said she expects at least 25 groups to be represented.
“This is purely a press conference and not a rally of sorts,” she clarified. “So we’re only asking one representative from each group to join us.”
“Our intention is to put the word out there for similar groups to band together with us. Then we will send a list of these groups to the Prime Minister (Najib Tun Razak).”
Stephanie Sta Maria (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/author/stamaria/)
| October 13, 2011[/COLOR]
PAGE and JMM are linking arms in urging the government to listen to parents who want English as optional instruction language in schools.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG01338-20111013-1120-300x225.jpg
(http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/13/page-finds-ally-in-fight-for-ppsmi/img01338-20111013-1120/)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Parents Action Group for Education (PAGE) has reached a significant milestone with Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) deciding to join forces with it in supporting the teaching of Maths and Science in English (PPSMI).
For the past three years PAGE has been a lone voice in fighting to retain the PPSMI which will be replaced by the policy of Upholding the Malay Language and Strengthening Command of English (MBMMBI) next year.
While its mission won strong support from within the urban communities, PAGE was acutely aware of its challenge in reaching out to the rural areas.
Its partnership with JMM will now enable both groups to draw out the voices of the rural Malays – a community which the government is paying close attention to in the run up to the next general election.
Both groups held their first meeting two weeks ago and their first joint press conference this morning.
“We knew that we were lacking a presence in the rural areas and that the government viewed us as an urban elite socety,” PAGE chairman, Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, told the media.
PAGE also won the unexpected support of Perkasa which published a full page editorial backing the continuation of the PPSMI.
“We had approached (Perkasa chief) Ibrahim (Ali) last August to explain our mission to him but he told us that Perkasa has always remained neutral,” Azimah. “We were satisfied with that response so this is surprise!”
Concerns of Malay parents
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/IMG01339-20111013-1120-225x300.jpg (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/13/page-finds-ally-in-fight-for-ppsmi/img01339-20111013-1120/)JMM meanwhile explained that it decided to join PAGE after the findings of a survey it conducted four months ago matched PAGE’s mission.
According to JMM president, Azwanddin Hamzah, Malay parents had voiced three main concerns over the abolishment of the PPSMI.
“First is that they won’t be able to send their children overseas,” he said. “Second is that work manuals are written in English. And third is that they want their children to seek employment in the international market.”
“The PPSMI is a good move by (former premier) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) and the Education Ministry cannot can’t simply abolish it just because it doesn’t know how to properly implement it.”
Both groups are calling on the Education Ministry to consent for the PPSMI to be included as an option as stated in the Education Act 1996.
\
They added that their individual survey findings have shown that a large number of parents still wanted the PPSMI to be continued and urged the government to consider these views.
According to Azimah even schools in Lembah Keramat and Shah Alam revealed support ratings of 68% and 80% respectively for the PPSMI.
“The impact of abolishing the PPSMI is finally hitting the parents,” said Azimah. “And so we want the Education Ministry to be transparent and forthcoming with them on any further information it has regarding this issue.”
Taking the initiative
She further noted that parents were discarding their previous apathy and were bolder in voicing out their concerns and dissatisfaction via the media.
“But they have to play their part at the ground level too,” she stated. “PAGE has its boundaries and we can’t talk to individual principals on parents’ behalf.”
“If parents want the PPSMI retained they should let the principal know and show him or her the Act. If they are ignored then they should conduct their own survey and show those results to the principal.”
“If nothing changes then they should bring it to the media. One step at the time, this is how PAGE has operated too.”
PAGE and JMM will be holding a larger press conference with other groups who support the PPSMI on Oct 25. Azimah said she expects at least 25 groups to be represented.
“This is purely a press conference and not a rally of sorts,” she clarified. “So we’re only asking one representative from each group to join us.”
“Our intention is to put the word out there for similar groups to band together with us. Then we will send a list of these groups to the Prime Minister (Najib Tun Razak).”