The importance of English language in Malaysia have been up for debates for a long time, with most expressing their concern over the declining English standards in the country.
Responding to the issue, the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) conducted a survey last month on the importance of English in public schools.
According to Malay Mail Online, 95.7 per cent of the respondents agreed on the importance of increasing the English language in public schools to increase proficiency in English among Malaysians.
The head of PEMANDU, Datuk Idris Jala informed that 90 percent out of the 190, 000 respondents of the survey,wanted more subjects to be taught in English, according to a report by Bloomberg Business on 29 October.
Budget 2016 saw a sum of RM38.5 million being allocated for the Dual Language Program and the Highly Immersive Program aimed at upholding Bahasa Malaysia and strengthening the English language
PM Najib Razak explained that the Dual Language Program (DLP) will implement the teaching of Science, Mathematics and Information Technology (IT) in both English and Bahasa Malaysia.
Following promises to continue working on increasing the levels of English proficiency in Malaysia, the government, today, announced that free English classes will be conducted from early 2016 for adults
The free English classes would be held in Urban Transformation Centers (UTC) and community centers around the country. But, trial classes will be held starting February 2016 in Pantai Dalam and Sentul. The venue and timing of the classes will be confirmed later by the ministry.
Image via Free Malaysia Today
Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah said that the classes are aimed are lower-income groups living in highly concentrated areas in Malaysia
Secretary-General of Treasury, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Siregar Abdullah
Image via The Malay Mail Online
The government is looking at getting the assistance of retired teachers and members of non-governmental organisations to conduct the free English classes next year
Image via British Council
The retired teachers and NGO members would be given an allowance by the government, should they participate in this initiative.
Meanwhile, when interviewed about their thoughts on the free English classes, most retired teachers had their concerns on whether the students would take the classes seriously as it will be conducted for free
According to a report by Malay Mail Online, retired English teacher, Shandha Kesava Pillay, 64, expressed her excitement to teach again after 10 years but stressed on the importance of ensuring that the government must find ways to make sure that the students attend the classes properly.
Aside from that, Shandha also thinks that married women who are interested to attend the classes might have trouble attending them as it might coincide with their other family duties.
