| Malaysians in favor of English-language schools, says poll By Reuters May 13, 2002, Philippine Daily Inquirer KUALA LUMPUR � Most Malaysians are in favor of reintroducing English-language schools, according to a poll in the Sunday Star newspaper, following a recently proposed move by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Ninety seven percent, or 4,142 respondents, said they wanted the government to reintroduce schools where classes are held only in English to help Malaysia to integrate (into) the global economy. The paper said the poll was conducted in response to Mahathir�s proposal to reintroduce teaching of all subjects in English in Malaysian schools, if the people wanted it���� Mahathir played a big part in replacing English with Malay in classrooms during the 1970s, before becoming prime minister in 1981. He was then interested in throwing off a legacy of British colonial rule and asserting Malay pre-eminence in a country where one-third of the population is Chinese and Indian. But recent data showing 94% of unemployed graduates were Malays sparked concerns that learning only Malay at school had put them at a disadvantage in the era of globalization and the knowledge-based economy. Ninety five percent of people who responded to the poll said the English-medium schools should not be limited to the primary level and 87% felt (such schools) should be extended to the secondary level. ***** |
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