ISSUES AND CONCERNS ON

LANGUAGE IN MALAYSIA

P E D R O S O , C AT H E R I N E S .
ISSUES ON LANGUAGE IN
MALAYSIA
 NATIONALISM AND INTERNATIONALIZATION

 The flag of democratic movement for independence and

nationalism had been waved for prompting the need to
recognize the status of Malay language as the “national and
sole official language”
 NATIONALISM AND INTERNATIONALIZATION

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad announced a decision that science and

mathematics subjects would henceforth be conducted in English started in
the first year of primary school.

 Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad insisted to alter the medium of instruction of

science and mathematics in the schools because “it is an uphill challenge
to keep up with knowledge proliferation in English”
 READING RELUCTANCE

 According to the National Library of Malaysia, Malaysians read an average

of only (2) two books per year

 While Malaysia’s literacy rate has increased, the incidence of habitual

readers among the public does not show a corresponding increase
– This reluctance affects all socio-economic and educational levels.
CONCERNS ON
LANGUAGE IN MALAYSIA
 Proficiency Levels of Teachers

 It was revealed by the Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh

that “…a third of English Language Teachers in the country have
been classified as ‘incapable’ or ‘unfit’ to teach the subject in
schools…” and that had been sent to courses to improve their
proficiency.
 This was revealed after 60,000 English Language Teachers has sat
the English Language Cambridge Placement Test in 2012, with 70%
performing poorly
 The Disparity in Competency Levels

 Students who have high levels of competency tend to come from

English speaking homes, have greater exposure to English outside
the classroom and tend to come from the higher socio-economic
status group. 

 Those with lower levels of competence come from either rural

schools where exposure to English is limited or from low socio-
economic groups in urban areas. 
 Policy Changes

 In December 1993, the Prime Minister announced that universities

in Malaysia would now be allowed to use English as a medium of
instruction in courses related to science and technology.

 Mohandhas (2015) states that both the teachers and students

were ill prepared, as they had to conduct their Science and
Mathematics lessons completely in English just seven months after
the policy’s first announcement
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LISTENING!