UITM KAMPUS PUNCAK ALAM

ELC 501 - (NBI2A)

SUBJECT: ENGLISH FOR CRITICAL ACADEMIC READING (GROUP ASSIGNMENT)

CRITICAL ANALYSIS: QUALITY EDUCATION TO SUSTAIN GROWTH

SUBMISSION DATE: 9 JULY 2023

PREPARED FOR:
HAJJAH ZURAIDAH BT BADARUDDIN

PREPARED BY:
NAME ID STUDENT
MOHD SYAZWAN BIN OSMAN 2022256216
NURATIKA NATASHA BINTI NORDIN 2022248794
NURHAZWANI BINTI NOR 2022291376

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ARTICLE ANALYSIS

In the article “Quality Education to Sustain Growth” the author discussed issue on whether
the quality of education system in Malaysia needs to be improved or not. The author used
deductive manner in the text because it starts with general point to specific point. The author’s
argument on this topic is negative because the article is discussing about the pessimistic side of
education system in Malaysia. The argument is about the quality of education system in Malaysia
which is not at the best standard. The author’s purpose for writing this article is to let readers
know that the quality of education system in Malaysia is not at the good standard. The author’s
tone on this article is biased because the author has a negative attitude towards Malaysia
educations system that lead to the lack of English skill and underperformed students, the lack of
qualified teaching staff and Malaysia which struggling with a lot of educational problems. The
author’s intended audiences to read this article are, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher
Education, parents and teachers.

The author’s present his first reason by mentioning that students in Malaysia could not speak
English fluently which reflected the level of English in Malaysia among students. He supports this
using strong evidence by providing a personal experience by HOMEMAKER Jean Lourdes (not
her real name). She had a tough time communicating with a young local sales attendant while
looking for some organic vegetables in an upscale supermarket in the Klang Valley recently. It
appeared the young sales attendant, who spoke minimum English, could not understand the term
organic vegetables, and hence, directed Lourdes out of the upscale supermarket which in fact,
did sell organic vegetables. She said “This may be a small matter, but I’m certainly concerned
about this trend… it adds to the existing signs of deteriorating level of English in our country” says
Lourdes.

His second reason by mentioning the quality of education system in Malaysia does not tally
with the Malaysia’s economic growth. He supports this using research based on report by the
World Bank reiterated that the quality of education in Malaysia has simply not kept pace with
country’s economic development and this is shown based on evidence on the poor performance
of Malaysian students in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). PISA is an
international assessment that measure 15-year-old students’ skills and knowledge in reading,
mathematics and science literacy developed by the Organization for Economic Co-operations and
Development (OECD). Another support is an expert opinion by World Bank where in the 2012
assessment, Malaysian students were found to have underperformed all other East Asian

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countries except Indonesia. Performance of Malaysians students in key areas, including the
command of English language, also seemed to be deteriorating.

His last reason by mentioning Malaysia had low quality educators. He supports this by using
a study by World Bank. According to the World Bank, while Malaysia is not short of teachers,
there are significant concerns about their quality, even as recent studies have identified a lack of
qualified teachers as the top constraint in the country’s education system. Another support is
based on a survey where a Teaching and Learning International Survey in 2009, found that 46%
of school principals in the country considered a lack of qualified teaching staff as a major
constraint. Even the Education Ministry had admitted that in recent years, some candidates
enrolling in teacher training institutions did not meet the minimum requirements of academic
achievement at the secondary level.

Overall, the author’s argument is consistent where he keeps discussing about the bad side of
Malaysia education system from the start till the end of the article. The author’s argument is not
complete because he does not overcome with opposing point which is the positive side of
Malaysia education system. The author’s argument is objective because he supports the facts
with clear and strong evidence and all the evidence came from well-established organizations.
The author’s argument has credibility because the argument is convincing where all the facts can
be verified also well-supported. The argument is valid because the author uses logical and strong
evidence.

REFERENCES

Improving the Quality of Education Key for Sustained Growth in Malaysia (December 10, 2013)

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2013/12/10/improving-the-quality-of-education-
key-for-sustained-growth-in-malaysia

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