Pages

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Complete Sovereignty or Globalization, a Language Issue

There are many different languages spoken in Malaysia. However, Article 152 of Malaysia’s Constitution states that Malay or Bahasa Malaysia is the country’s official language. This is the general medium of instruction employed by Malaysia’s educational system. Mandarin and Tamil are also taught in national-type schools because of the large population of Chinese and Indians in the country. English, on the other hand, is taught only in international schools.

However, in 2003, the PPSMI policy was implemented. It was initiated by Run Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the prime minister at that time. According to this policy, science and math subjects were to be taught in English. This was to ensure that future citizens of Malaysia will not be at a disadvantage compared to citizens of other countries in this era of intense globalization. The internet then was fast becoming an important tool for education, business, politics, etc. Therefore, English proficiency seemed essential.


By 2009, there was a reversal of the PPSMI policy. This meant that science and math were no longer going to be taught in English after 2012. Bahasa Malaysia will be the medium of instruction for both subjects together as with all the other subjects. While in national-type schools, Mandarin and Tamil will be used.

The government went ahead with the reversal and used one of the UNESCO studies as basis for the decision. According to the studies made by UNESCO, students are able to learn better in their mother tongue especially during the earliest stages of education.

Many people were opposed and are still opposed to this reversal. They come from different groups: members of the academe, parents, teachers, students, among other. However, there were and still are many supporters of the reversal from the same groups of people mentioned earlier. Studies and arguments continue to be presented left and right. The debates never seem to end.

It is interesting to ask whether parents should actually have a say on this matter. Someone cited the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights as saying that children should be educated according to their parents’ wishes. Would the parents want their children learning only Bahasa Malaysia? Or would they welcome English as a medium of instruction for science and math?

In a world where the lingua franca for science and math is English, are the Malaysian children then put to a disadvantage? What about in other nations? Is English used as the medium of instruction for both science and math? How then are their students faring? Is the national language of those countries that use English to teach science and math being compromised?

This is indeed an interesting time for Malaysia’s educational system and for its official language. Malaysia should find a way to balance their desire to be competitive in this time of globalization with their aspiration to keep their national identity intact by ensuring the sovereignty of their official language, Bahasa Malaysia. The government must find a win-win solution to this challenge because they have the power to write the future of Malaysia through the language used to teach their future generation.

11 comments:

Emma Jasmine said...

Man should know multiple languages according to education experts. I also know 4-5 languages, I always share the questions and answers on social medias to keep my self update.

renee said...

Issues of sovereignty arise when these organizations usurp the powers of self-governing nations. Nursing Essay Writing Service UK

kristenemma said...

By me your blog post is very interesting amazing. Your articles contain awesome information which very useful for me as well as those students who are searching for for cheap essay help so once again i wnatv to thank you it very beneficial for the students.

Abdul Samad Sheikh said...

nice post. here you can find the content according to your requirements, the content writing services in dubai providing the best content writing at very low prices than others with money back offers.

jessciacarvin said...

we are providing essay writing service in Canada which is Good and nursing essay help we 24/7 hours available for your order so don’t be waste your time anywhere as simply place the order and get the best results on your academic result.

Ariel Wilson said...

I love to learn a different language but mandarin was the most difficult of them all so I left it midway. I’m quite eloquent at English speaking even though I’m not a native speaker. However; I’d like to take the dissertation help from professional writers. Can someone do my dissertation for me because its submission date is just around the corner?

Laverne D. Tillson said...

The debate between complete sovereignty and globalization is a complex issue that touches on many different aspects of society, including language. As the world becomes more interconnected, the need for effective communication across language barriers becomes increasingly important. This is why many businesses and organizations turn to the best WordPress web designers in the US to create multilingual websites that can help bridge the gap between different cultures and languages.

David John said...

Complete Sovereignty or Globalization, a Language Issue" is a thought-provoking topic that highlights the complexities of language in a globalized world. As businesses and organizations continue to expand their reach, working with a full service digital agency that has expertise in multilingual website design and localization can be crucial. By ensuring that your website and content are accessible and understandable to a diverse range of audiences, you can establish your brand as a global player and set yourself up for success in an increasingly interconnected world.

Marlene Jeff said...

While the debate between complete sovereignty and globalization can be complex, language is a critical factor to consider, especially when it comes to sales compensation software. As businesses expand globally, they need to ensure that their sales team is accurately and fairly compensated regardless of language or location. Sales compensation software can help overcome language barriers by providing a centralized system for managing and calculating commissions, ensuring that all sales representatives are compensated fairly and accurately.

Phil Smith said...

The debate over complete sovereignty versus globalization has implications for language and cultural preservation. In the context of tourism, activities like the "morning desert safari" may be seen as disrespectful to local culture and traditions. It is important to find a balance between globalization and cultural preservation to promote respectful and sustainable tourism practices.

Markcasiol01 said...

Are you dreaming of owning your dream home? check the best broker for home loan service in Australia.///https://applyforhomeloan.com.au/