KUCHING: The Ministry of Education (MoE) is placing a strong emphasis on empowering both Bahasa Melayu and English as part of its ongoing education reform agenda.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek mentioned that Bahasa Melayu will continue to be a national priority, alongside intensified efforts to enhance English proficiency through various programmes and teacher training initiatives.
“Bahasa Melayu cannot be sidelined; it remains a major commitment at both the national and educational levels,” she stated during her visit to SMK Santubong today (Sept 12).
Simultaneously, she highlighted that English would be strengthened through targeted programmes, pedagogical training for teachers, and cultural enrichment activities within schools.
“Our current focus lies on teacher training and programmes that promote the effective and fluent use of English. We also acknowledge that our students will face international assessments in the future, necessitating mastery of English and other crucial skills,” she elaborated.
Fadhlina emphasized that the dual focus on enhancing both languages is an essential aspect of the ministry’s broader education reform initiatives.
“This represents a significant commitment for the ministry, and we are dedicated to its consistent implementation,” she affirmed.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, speaking at the Ambank Golden Jubilee Dinner, stressed the necessity for the MoE to be more proactive in enhancing English proficiency among students, as it is pivotal for the country’s future.
“I cannot tolerate Malaysians who are unable to master Bahasa Melayu. However, we must recognise that English proficiency is essential for the nation’s progress,” he emphasised.
Anwar reiterated that Bahasa Melayu remains the national language that every citizen must master, while underlining the importance of taking English seriously as a key requirement in global competition, particularly in the realms of economy, trade, technology, and education.
