Education Ministry mulls introducing Mandarin, Tamil languages in schools

The Education Ministry is mulling to introduce the Mandarin and Tamil languages as subjects in schools.

Second Education minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the ministry wished to create a balance in language proficiency among the races in the country.

"Currently we are only emphasising on English, Higher Order Thinking Skills and other subjects," he said.

Nevertheless, he said the plan had to be studied from all angles before it could be implemented.

"There must be proper planning. We have to scrutinise the various aspects. We cannot lump them in one basket and implement them all at once," he told reporters here today after closing a corporate social responsibility programme by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) to empower students in English-language communication.

The six-month programme, 'Let's Talk And Let's Go Global', participated by 260 students from 13 schools and organised with the cooperation of the education ministry and Radio Televisyen Malaysia Terengganu, was held from July 6 until Dec 21 last year.

Meanwhile, Idris said the government would announce at the end of the month, its decision on whether or not to proceed with the school-based assessment (SBA).

He reiterated that the SBA was meant to ease the burden of teachers.

"It is being streamlined and enhanced. We will ensure that the new SBA would ease teachers' burden and allow them more time to teach," he said.

The ministry decided last week to put the SBA on hold following public objections.