TEACHING OF SCIENCE IN

ENGLISH
Noor Amira Ramli
Norazian Che Puzi
 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
• In June 2002, a dramatic shift in the Malaysian
Educational Policy was announced. The Minister
of Education informed the public that from
January 2003, Science and Mathematics will be
taught in English in standard One, Form One
and Lower Six in all fully aided government
schools.
• The Ministry of Education Circular Number
11/2002
 THE RATIONALE
• A good command of English would enable students to
access the internet and read materials in English.
• Implementation started in stages in 2003
i.e. Year 1 students for Primary Schools, Form 1 and
Lower 6 students for Secondary Schools.
Full implementation of PPSMI achieved in 2007 for
Secondary Schools and 2008 for
Primary Schools.
• Most Science based courses in the universities were
highly dependant on reference materials that are
published in the English language
 Implementation Strategies
• Revising school textbook, improving
integration of ICT in teaching and learning,
• Improving teaching and learning in science by
providing more science teachers, laboratories,
and science materials
• Implementing contextual teaching and learning
methods and inclusion of new educational
elements such as biotechnology and
microelectronics to make learning of
sciencemore interesting and relevant
 THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
POLICY
• Many studies on 10 000 schools
nationwide concluded that the policy did
not succeed as a whole.
• Students proficiency in English generally
have increased but Science and
Mathematics literacy dropped.
• Affect students from the rural area the
most.
 REVERSAL OF THE POLICY
• Plan to phase out PPSMI announced on
July 8 2009
• Completely reverting back to BM by 2012
• Reasons: e.g. declines in grades in UPSR
results in science and maths, particularly
• in rural areas
• • Huge sum spent on converting from BM to
• English since 2003 until now.