SECONDARY schools in Sarawak will teach Mathematics and Science subjects in English in stages from 2026, said state Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah.
He said this will apply to Form 1 students in 2026, who would also have completed their primary school learning in English.
“The federal Education Ministry had agreed for Sarawak secondary schools to use English as the medium of instruction for Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Additional Mathematics, with a circular being drawn up,” he said in his winding-up speech at the Sarawak assembly.
Sarawak’s dual language programme (DLP) for Science and Mathematics to be taught in English began in 2020 with Year 1 pupils.
“My ministry and the federal Education Ministry are in the process of formalising these agreed-upon points into circulars and regulations to ensure their adherence and continuity in the future,” he said, adding that they were being guided by the Sarawak Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Sagah also said his ministry had drawn a comprehensive plan to carry out standardised assessments for Primary 6 pupils beginning 2025 and Form 3 students by 2028.
“This will replace the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) examinations, which have been scrapped by the Education Ministry in favour of school-based assessments,” he said.
To ensure the quality and standard of assessment, he said his ministry is now in a series of discussions with an international accredited assessment provider, and would be concluded soon.
He assured the examinations would not burden students, teachers, and parents.
He also thanked the Education Ministry (MoE) for giving approval in principle and offering the necessary cooperation and support to Sarawak’s plan to carry out the standardised assessments. – May 13, 2024
