Penang Education Dept-USM plan to raise BM passing rate

The Penang Education Department will draft a plan to raise the passing rate for Bahasa Melayu on par with English, with the help of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

The state is the top performer nationwide for English in the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR), Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR), Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) examinations.

The Department's director Ahmad Tarmizi Kamaruddin said they will use the same effective teaching methods from USM which were used to improve the results for English.

"SPM students recorded a passing rate of only 87.99 percent last year," he told Bernama after opening the Stabilising of Bahasa Melayu School Based Assessment seminar at USM, Penang here yesterday evening.

He said the Education Ministry, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and USM will conduct courses, seminars, workshop and training for the language teachers.

"We plan to take in 375 non-Bahasa Melayu option teachers annually to attend these courses in order to enhance their skills under the Upholding Bahasa Malaysia and strengthening the English Language proficiency (MBMMBI) policy," he added.