Summary of the article

This article is mainly discussed the importance of the second language- English, as
the medium of instruction in universities as well as the issues in replacing it with the local
vernacular language. According to Nyika (2014), he states that most of the developing
country nowadays more likely to debate the usage of the mother tongue as the medium of
instruction instead of the second language which mainly English. Theres a lot of
pertinent repercussions that have to be consider of when changing the policy in terms of
education, employability, innovations and also competitions in the global area.
Besides, Nyika (2014) pointed out that the usage of the vernacular language for the
tertiary level education will subsequently achieve a great success in finding a career
afterwards. This statement is relevant to the world nowadays. Language is one of the
most important aspects in competing for a highly demanded job, for instance in medical,
architecture and also engineering fields. In addition, without highly proficient in
communication and English language during studying in tertiary level institutions it
might be very challenges in adapting in the real-life situation where English is the main
ingredients for communication.
In addition, this article also included some of relevant issues that have to be
reconsider whenever the certain government want to change their policy regarding the
language. These included the performance of the student, innovations, employability and
the competitiveness of university in a global context. Only several aspects that will be
highlighted in this summary. Firstly, the performance of the students, the conducive
environment at the universities giving a great impact to their academic performance.
Besides, the role of teacher should not be forgotten as this will contribute a large
repercussions to the students learning progress. The qualified teacher or lecturer should
have both appropriate usage of language and the content of knowledge to ensure the
teaching and learning processes are in the right path.
Next is the competitiveness of a university to be knowledge globally. Most of the
international collaboration projects needs an international language as a medium to
communicate with. Hence, even though a mother tongue being used as a medium of
communication, international language should also be use proficiently. Only by doing so,
the purposes of the project can be achieve.

Analyzation of the article

As for my analyzation based on the article chosen, I will elaborate my points by
using deductive reasoning. Based on my personal judgment on this topic, I prefer the
usage of English as a medium of instruction but not only in universities context, but also
in primary and secondary school. First of all, let see in general the repercussions that may
be happen if native language- Bahasa Malaysia, being used as medium of instruction in
educational aspect.
If we refer back to our National Education Philosophy as well as our Nations Vision
for 2020, it is mainly revolve around producing a competitive citizens in various aspects
of life and also to be a developed country in a mean time. In pursuing such a large
objective, second language plays an important role to achieve it (Phan et.al, 2013). For
example, in innovations and also employability of a workers that seems to be an
increasing demand for a person which have a qualification on using several international
language- mainly English. As for the people that do not have the criteria, the chances for
them to survive in the world nowadays is really low.
In innovations and also science and technology, although this field is not directly
influence by language, at a certain point, language can be a barrier in promoting and also
elaborating the project to the stakeholder who is not understand the inventors language.
Hence, both of the point, have a critical affection on our nations aspiration.
Now, let see from the communities perspectives in Malaysia. The three major races
in this country having a great differences in terms of their mother tongue. For the
language expertise, having a one language as a medium in a daily life might help those
races gain unity. But, if we realize, although the policy changes on choosing the medium
of instruction in educational aspects, other races, such as Chinese and Indian most of
them were still using English as their medium in conversation. There is no point here
actually. The parents still send their kids to tuition center for enhancing their English
language and everything seems to be as it is. This is due to awaken of globalization
nowadays that shows a fierce competition between other human being.
Lets move on to the narrower scale which is the student itself. According to several
studies that have been conducted regarding the implementation of PPSMI, according to
The Star (2011), it stated that 500,000 students failed every year due to the PPSMI

policies and based on research made also, the researchers have come to conclusion that
the implementation of PPSMI is not bring any success to Malaysian education. On the
other hand, if we use mother tongue as a medium of instruction in school but in tertiary
level education were using English the student might find it hard to grab the knowledge.
This is because, through the eleven years in school, they have zero knowledge for science
or mathematical terms in English since their learn all of this in national language so,
when their enter the universities that using international language as medium of
instruction most of them will find it difficult to survive in such environment.
Based on my reading, the idea of PPSMI is a good idea, but the method of
implementation is not carried out well. That is why most of student feel it is burdensome.
If we look closely onto this matter, it is actually the same as the PBS policy. How many
percentage of teacher that have a preparation to face the changes?. This is government
responsible to make sure every stakeholder alert and ready for any changes. Even though
our country have reversed the policy on using English as the medium of instruction it
actually a good pace for the primary and also secondary school students in term of their
academic performance but not in preparing them to be fit in a competition that greatly
occur between every living human being nowadays.
In relation with the Curriculum and Instruction course, the developing of curriculum
is a major thing that have to be learned in this subject. Based on Tabas model of
curriculum, the first step that have to be conducted are needs analysis. Same goes to
changes in medium of instruction policy. Need analysis need to be carried out to find
what are the current needs of the party involved which is teacher, parents and also the
student. Besides, the evaluation and revision of a curriculum- policy in this case, need to
be conducted to improvised and to find a way in solving any shortcoming.
To sums up all this matters, there are pros and cons that being develop form this
topic. As for my own perspective, the implementation of English as the medium of
instruction was actually a great way in pursuing our excellence in various aspects. In
educational aspect, rural or urban area is not an excuse to segregate the uses of language.
It is the duty of the teacher and also the community at large to help the student in
empowering the international language, at last this is one of the good reason why the
teacher should expert in language while their studying in university- mainly English.

References:
1) Nyika A.(2014). Mother tongue as the medium of instruction at developing country
universities in a global context. South Africa Journal of Science, 111(1/2), 1-5.
doi: 10.17159/sajs.2015/20140005.
2)

Phan Le Ha, Joyce Kho & Brendan Chg.(2013). Nation Building, English as an
International Language, Medium of Instruction, and Language Debate: Malaysia

Possible Ways Forward. Journal of International and Comparative

3)

and

Education, 2(2).

Why PPSMI is Abolished. (2011, October 5). The Star. Retrieved from
http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2011%2F10%2F5%2Ffocus%2F9631026