Keep existing DLP policy for schools, MCA Youth tells govt

MCA said the decision by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to reject calls for a review of the latest guidelines by the Education Ministry (MoE) on the Dual Language Programme (DLP) was disappointing.

The party’s youth secretary-general Saw Yee Fung said there had been repeated calls from parents, students and education groups, but were all met with rejection.

“The Pakatan Harapan-led Malaysia Madani government came into power with promises of being people-centric, to be on common ground with the rakyat.

“However, the insistence of the MoE over changes to the DLP for the new school term indicates its failure to empathise and comprehend the despair of the rakyat’s voices,” said Saw in a statement.

She said this indicated that the MoE was out of touch over how disruptive this decision was against the affected students.

Fadhlina had earlier said that she stood firm against calls to review the DLP’s guidelines, saying its implementation aligns with her ministry’s goal to uphold Bahasa Melayu and strengthen the command of English.

Fadhlina, who is also the Nibong Tebal MP, said the directive would help to improve DLP students’ proficiency in both English and Bahasa Melayu.

Saw said, “The MoE has, thus far, shown no indication that it is willing to hold dialogues with parent groups and stakeholders on the DLP issue.

“Despite growing calls for the ministry to retain existing guidelines, the minister has remained steadfast in her decision, leaving parents and students feeling unheard and frustrated.

“This lack of engagement underscores the minister’s apparent disregard for the concerns of those directly affected by the policy change,” she said.

When the new school term begins in March, Saw said schools that have been implementing the DLP for the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English since its inception will now have to open at least one class for these two subjects to be conducted in Bahasa Melayu (BM).

“In the interest of children raised under the DLP, for the betterment of their learning process and to lay to rest the anxieties of parents and students, MCA Youth appeals to MoE to reconsider its insistence on the revised DLP guidelines.

“Instead, MoE needs to retain the existing DLP policy, support and expand the DLP’s aspirations,” added Saw. – The Vibes, January 20, 2024