KUCHING: An academician here has suggested that all specific terms and terminology in the teaching of science and mathematics be retained.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) deputy vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Mohd Fadzil Abdul Rahman said if there were a lot of resistance to the teaching of science and mathematics in English, “then perhaps continue teaching both subjects in Bahasa Malaysia (BM), but retain all scientific terms and terminology.”
He said the only problem was that when using the national language to teach both subjects and the terminology is changed as well, this would prevent students from really understanding the subjects when they have to learn them in English later.
Mohd Fadzil further pointed out that in the past, some of the specific terms and terminology were translated into Bahasa Malaysia and the ones that could not be translated, the spelling was switched instead.
Thus, he said if translation was not possible, then it was better to maintain it without changing the spelling.
“I also read an article that suggested that there was no need to think so much about English because they say students in rural areas are still struggling to acquire knowledge in science and mathematics.
“But I would like to use Sarawak as a case study. I think Sarawakians are very receptive to change. When we want to teach science and mathematics in English, I think it doesn’t matter whether they are from rural areas, they are more than willing to acquire the knowledge in English,” he said.
Mohd Fadzil also disagreed with comments that students in rural areas might be at a disadvantage because they were not good in English and secondly, they were forced to learn science and mathematics in English.
“But my humble point of view is that these days, even in Peninsular Malaysia when we taught in English in LCE and MCE, there was no problem at all, even among rural students.
“If you look at the Greek era, all scholars and scientists were speaking Greek but when the Arab scholars went there, they learnt Greek and at the same time, acquire the knowledge in science and technology.
“Later the West learned Arabic and acquire the knowledge from Arabic philosophers and scholars, and at the end of the day, English became the lingua franca for people to acquire knowledge.
“So, the idea of (Prime Minister) Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) is not so much about acquiring English skill but more about having to learn English in order for students to acquire science and mathematics knowledge,” he said.
Mahathir’s continued push for science and mathematics to be taught in English has met with resistance from a number of groups.
Among those who had spoken out against the policy are the National Muslim Students Association, the Muslim Youth Movement, the Linguistics Association of Malaysia, Amanah Youth, PSM Youth and Gerakan.
