PETALING JAYA, Oct 26 — Teachers have called on the Education Ministry to re-introduce the English for Teaching Mathematics and Science (ETeMS) programme.

They said that under the programme, introduced 13 years ago, English lessons were conducted for teachers in the two subjects.

The call came in response to the Budget 2016 announcement that the Dual Language Programme (DLP) pilot project would give 300 schools the option to teach Science and Mathematics in English.

Malik Syam Mohd Latiff, 26, a teacher at a rural school in Temerloh, Pahang, said Science and Mathematics teachers undergoing the ETeMS programme received an allowance to buy books and to go for extra classes to improve their English.

“The ETeMS was a great help for teachers to adapt to the language transformation,” he said.

Another teacher, Kalarani Kanapathy, 54, related her experience tutoring Science and Mathematics teachers while being part of the ETeMS  programme.

“We were taught by the ministry on how to train the teachers according to the modules,” she said.

Wach batch of teachers would undergo the course for a number of weeks and the outcome showed substantive improvements among her trainees.

“Initially, it was rather tiring to rush after school to teach these teachers,” Kalarani, who is now teaching in Tapah, Perak, said.

“As trainers, we could only claim for mileage from the ministry, but no other allowance. However, in the end, it was worth it.”

Having been a teacher for more than 30 years, Kalarani advised Science and Mathematics teachers to put in more effort to improve their command of English.

“They have to read more and speak the language. Do it for the sake of the children, who look up to us as role models,” she said.

Kalarani, however, questioned how the Dual Language Programme would be carried out.

“Why are they giving the parents the option to choose between English or Bahasa Malaysia? What if they say no?” she asked

“It should be implemented in batches straight away. We know the importance of English in those two critical subjects in the long run.”

Kalarani said all the formulas in Science and Mathematics were in English, and it would be easier for the students to adapt as they went for higher learning and tertiary studies.

Malik, on the other hand, commended the DLP project, aimed at teaching both subjects in English for standard one and standard four students to help them grasp the language early.

“A standard one student will have little problem as it would be the first time they learn Mathematics in English,” he said. 

“As for the standard four students, they would experience a slight transformation.

“But for Science, it would be their first time learning the terminologies in English. It would be a good time to start.”