Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday out up a poll on his blog to gauge public sentiments on the reversing of the PPSMI, which I blogged about a couple of days ago here. I am against the reversal by the way.

The Tun has made it clear on his blog that he isn’t happy with the decision (teaching of Science and Math in English was his idea after all) despite Deputy Prime Minister, also Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said when announcing the reversal that there has been discussion with the Tun and the latter had accepted the decision.

I am still wondering why a former Prime Minister is involved in current Government decisions (okay lah, if I realllyyy wanted to be nice, maybe it was just out of courtesy). That said, I do agree with the Tun’s view and I do think he’s entitled to his own opinion.

Obviously, this isn’t going to end anytime soon.

This morning, I woke up to an SMS from an unknown number asking me to head over to Tun’s blog to vote NO! to his poll on whether or not we agree to the Government’s move to teach Science and Math in Bahasa Malaysia. As I write this, 79% (17691) has voted “No”.

That said, I hardly think a poll like this holds any weight – mainly because it is using such a basic poll system that I can just refresh my page and well, vote again. The numbers are not accurate.

I wish the Tun, obviously knowing his influence, had used a more sophisticated method to track votes so that the results would have more credibility (then again, most people who are on the Internet in Malaysia are urban-ish anyway).

He even said on his blogpost:

I will then try to let the Government know your opinion.

No point I think if the poll results can be compromised. Still, at least people are speaking up. I’m not sure if the Government will reverse their reversal but hey, they have to listen to us on somethings some day right? Can only hope.

10.24am Malaysian time (+8 GMT)

We have heard rumours since yesterday that this was going to happen but now it’s official – I just watched the press conference live on TV1.

I didn’t catch everything but from what I gather, Muhyiddin said that this decision was based on studies they did which indicated that English proficiency did not improve with PPSMI and that students were doing more badly in Math and Science exams than previously.

Pah.

It seems to me that this is a calculated political move, although the DPM had earlier mentioned that the decision will not be one that was made under pressure by any groups, or politically inclined.

He said at the press conference that this is for the future of the kids. Ho hum.

You would have thought that the biggest opponent to this decision will be Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, although, The Star Education Desk (@starppsmi) Twittered that Muhyiddin said the Tun accepted the decision after a three-hour discussion.

While I support anyone who would fight to retain the PPMSI – because I’m all for it myself – I do wonder why the Tun is involved in so much of the discussions. With all due respect but isn’t he like, er, two Prime Ministers ago?

But that’s not the point. A lot of arguments have been that PPSMI will be able to help improve the English language proficiency of students. @ppsmi Twittered saying that DPM mentioned that PPSMI will take 15-20 years to see effect.

He said that by improving the language of English at primary school level – and the Cabinet will increase English hours in primary schools by 90 minutes a week – will allow us to see results in three years.

He also announced that only 9.96% of primary school teachers are proficient in English. Three years? Er … excuse me if I remain doubtful.

Even then, I think the argument is flawed (although I am glad that at least English is still being given some attention, like the DPM said through grammar, literature and drama). PPSMI is not only about language proficiency. I believe, as do many others who have said it before me, that a massive collection of science and math documents/literature etc are in English (or have been translated to English). Therefore, it is also about grasping the right concepts and knowledge.

Truth be told, as someone who studied Science and Math in BM, my knowledge of science and math jargon is limited (and I have trouble translating what I remember in BM to English because I am unfamiliar with the English terms).

BUT if language really is the main concern, then why don’t we put in some policies to improve PPSMI? Like running the English improvement policies in tandem with PPSMI?

Muhyiddin said in the press conference that they had known since 2003 that it wasn’t working, but wanted to let the cycle complete. Waitaminute, IF you knew that at 2003, why not put in the English improvement policy that you said will take three years to see results? Then by 2006, we would have had students able to cope with PPSMI and by 2009 – this year – everything would be perfect, right?

Correction: Sorry, the DPM didn’t say 2003. He said they had known earlier that it wasn’t working but they wanted to the cycle complete. I still stand by my argument that if they had known before, they could still put in the English improvement policy that runs in tandem to help students cope with PPSMI. This way, the wait is still 3 years instead of 15-20 years and the current students won’t be so badly affected.

But that’s just my point of view. Apparently, the Cabinet doesn’t agree with me.

You can get more details through @starppsmi which is Twittering live from the press conference, or this article on The Star Online. The reversal will be done in stages from 2012 onwards.

3.15pm Malaysian time (+8 GMT)