Assessment of publicoppinion on PPSMI in Inanam / Cyril Dusip ... [et al.]

The Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (ETeMS or better known by its Malay acronym, PPSMI) was introduced in 2003 during the leadership of our fourth Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. It changed the medium of instruction for the teaching of Mathematics and Science from Bahasa Malaysia to English. However, on July 8, 2009 cabinet has decided to abolish the PPSMI policy stage by stage covers pupils in Standard 1, Standard 4, Form 1 and Form 4 started on year 2012. PPSMI policy then replaced with a new policy which is Upholding Bahasa Malaysia, Strengthening the Command of English (MBMMBI) which means to sustain the Bahasa Malaysia as medium of instruction for science and mathematics in addition to improvement of teaching and learning approach for the language in schools. Meanwhile, it also focuses on the improvement in curriculum of English Language as well preparing enough and quality material and teachers for that purpose. Hence, this study identifies the public opinion on the reverting of PPSMI, besides aims to further understand about its advantages and disadvantages to the students. A sample of 160 students in Inanam is chosen to answer the questionnaire. Majority of the respondents were agreed on the government decision to replace PPSMI to MBMMBI. Not surprisingly, public opinion on the reverting of PPSMI showed to correlate with respondents' mastery in English language. Although it shows that PPSMI had been implemented well and evaluated in moderate level, but the respondents still tend to support the new policy. PPSMI policy did not preferable in the school.