I REFER to Michelle Ong’s letter “Match syllabus to children’s age level” (The Star, March 4).

Her complaint is commonly heard in most vernacular schools where the students are not so fluent in Bahasa Melayu or the language is not their mother tongue.

The high standard of the language taught in schools is only to be expected given its national language status.

In primary schools in Singapore, the standard of the English language is many times higher than in Malaysia. Again it is expected.

The only difference is that this choice of the medium is neutral; it makes no distinction as to the race of the student. Every child regardless of his or her race has an equal chance in mastering the language.

My dissatisfaction lies here: Why does the Government not raise the standard of English on par with Bahasa? Do we not acknowledge that English is used more widely in the world than Bahasa is and therefore making it more pertinent to educate our children in English? Why do we “under-educate” them?

I have two children who go to a Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) and I have faith that they are receiving the best education as they are also learning the language of one country that is growing in importance in the international arena. I believe, too, that with a foundation of the three languages, they can succeed in future in their birth land and also in foreign lands.

KF FOONG,
Ipoh.

Source: The Star – March 14, 2008