SERIAN: A total of 2,873 teachers will be trained to teach Science and Mathematics subjects in English beginning next month.
This was revealed by Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong when he officiated at the closing of a three-day UPSR Camp for Tebedu constituency at Tayung Langui Hall, Kampung Pichin near here, yesterday.
“The state cabinet has approved my proposal for RM11 million to train these teachers and for the purchase of learning and teaching materials.
“This money is from the state, not a single cent is from the federal government. Thus, I urge teachers and parents to support this programme. If we use 10 periods for English language, six periods for Mathematics (in English) and four periods for Science, altogether the students would have spent 20 periods a week speaking English (Primary One).
“I believe by the end of Primary Six, the pupils will be able to confidently speak and communicate in English. Students should not worry about making mistakes. Just go ahead with the broken English that you speak, as long as you speak English. Your friends will follow suit,” Manyin said, adding that both teachers and students must try to communicate with each other in English as much as possible.
He also urged teachers not to penalise students on grammatical mistakes when the students attempted to speak English.
“Instead, teachers should praise them for trying to converse and communicate in English,” Manyin said.
He also reminded teachers and educators to prepare their students for the digital economy and Industrial Revolution (IR) 4.0.
“Federal Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof last week said about 70 per cent of fresh graduates nowadays failed to get jobs due to several factors, among them, not possessing the right or marketable qualifications.
“Hence, we must guide our boys and girls to inculcate interest for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects.
“I would like to remind the teachers here to be prepared. About 70 per cent of our (Malaysian) graduates cannot get jobs, the federal minister said, not me,” he said.
The camp was participated by hundreds of UPSR students from primary schools around Tebedu, accompanied by their teachers.
