I REFER to the warning issued by Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim (China Press, Nov 24) over the government’s readiness to adopt the methods used by Chinese schools to teach mathematics and science.

He cautioned the government on the risks of producing rote learning students who have no creativity and who cannot withstand any challenges should our government adopt the Chinese school approach in all primary schools.

First, I would like to ask how much research or comparative studies backed by statistics has the professor done to come to the conclusion that Chinese schools are good for nothing except producing a bunch of copycats whose prowess is only in their skill to memorise facts and figures.

When an academician makes a generalised statement he should back his statement with statistics, otherwise not only will his statement be regarded as invalid, his status as an academician will also suffer disrespect.

On the contrary, when Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also deputy prime minister, expressed the government’s readiness to adopt the Chinese school approach in teaching maths and science, he is strictly basing it on the ministry’s statistics which show the Chinese schools consistently producing excellent results in the two subjects.

How could the professor express his fear of the government’s readiness to adopt the approach in the teaching of the two subjects merely based on his hypothesis that the good results are the result of rote learning?

Is he questioning the authenticity of the evaluation tests carried out by the Malaysian Examination Council on the two subjects?

Many Malaysian scientists, industrialists, inventors, etc received their primary education in Chinese schools? Isn’t Khoo aware that the first person in the world to invent the pen drive was a Malaysian who was educated in the Chinese school system and graduated from Taiwan University? How about the Ipoh Chinese school boy who became famous singing Mandarin songs even in Taiwan, China and Hongkong? Aren’t these young successful Malaysians creative and capable of withstanding challenges? With due respect I suggest the professor go to www.globalmalaysians.com to see for himself the number of young successful Chinese-school educated Malaysians living and working abroad.

I admit that the Chinese school approach is not perfect. There are weaknesses which can be rectified with the government’s help. However, the good practices which enable the Chinese schools to keep producing excellent results in maths and science certainly deserve study. It is no risk to adopt their good practices for the benefit of 1Malaysia.

Yoong
Ipoh

Source: The Sun – November 30, 2009