PUTRAJAYA, 8 Jan 2009: The Education Ministry will not be hasty or bow to threats with regard to the policy on the use of English in teaching science and mathematics, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today.
“There is no need to be hasty because any decision even if it is taken now, it will be implemented next year,” the minister told reporters here.
He said the ministry had studied and scrutinised 22 study papers on the subject and the outcome would be tabled before the Cabinet in the near term for the final decision.
On the National Writers Association’s push for the policy to be scrapped, he said: “If it wants to do something, go ahead but the ministry will not budge on the agenda that the decision depends on the views of all quarters not just certain groups.
Earlier, Hishammuddin launched a reality television programme produced by the ministry entitled Kemiskinan Bukan Penghalang which will be aired by RTM 1 next month and a guidebook on the ministry’s assistance for students.
He said the government was still committed to channelling various forms of additional assistance despite the economic turmoil to ensure poor and disadvantaged students receive the necessary aid.
From this year, the allowance for disabled students would be raised from RM50 to RM150 and the ministry would also open 704 pre-school classes nationwide, he said. — Bernama
