KL to boost science in schools<\/p>\n
By David Chew<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (JP): Malaysia has the abundant natural resources,
\nthe requisite manpower and the good connections to become a
\ndeveloped nation within the next 20 years as envisaged by its
\nPrime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.<\/p>\n
Despite these advantages, however, top government officials
\nfear that Dr. Mahathir's "Vision 2020" may continue to be an
\nempty agenda so long as Malay secondary students lack interest in
\nscience and mathematics.<\/p>\n
Unless this major attitudinal problem is tackled effectively,
\nthere would be no catalyst to transform the resources and
\nconnections into meaningful use as required by "Vision 2020", the
\nofficials conclude.<\/p>\n
At numerous forums nationwide, Dr. Mahathir has stressed the
\nimportance of highly-trained manpower for the success of his
\n"Vision 2020". He stressed the need for more scientists,
\nengineers, doctors, architects and other professionals.<\/p>\n
They would form the vanguard of the project 600,000 skilled
\nand semi-skilled people required up to the year 2000 to sustain
\nthe momentum of Malaysia's high economic growth rate. A rate that
\nwould increasingly be engineered by capital intensive industries.<\/p>\n
Schools will provide the source for this trained manpower. To
\nnurture it, the Malaysian government last year spent M$2.023
\nbillion (roughly US$ 792 million), or about 20 percent of the
\nnational budget, to install new science laboratories, technical
\nworkshops and the latest sophisticated tools and machinery in
\nschools. The amount was increased to M$2.111 billion this year.<\/p>\n
So important is science and technology to the Malaysian
\ngovernment, that it wants 60 percent of secondary school students
\nto study science and mathematics.<\/p>\n
The government also plans to double the intake of medical
\nstudents at local universities in a bid to meet the target of
\n33,500 doctors by the year 2020, according to Education Minister
\nNajib Tun Razak. At the end of last year, official statistics
\nrevealed that there were only 9,504 registered doctors in
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
Top officials are worried that the Malaysian government's
\nefforts to encourage the wider study of science and mathematics
\nin secondary schools, particularly in the fourth and fifth forms,
\nmay be futile if Malay students continue to show a lack of
\ninterest in these subjects.<\/p>\n
Secondary schooling is the middle level in Malaysia's three-
\ntier education system, comprised of six years of primary
\nschooling, five years of secondary schooling and two years of
\npre-university. Students then proceed to tertiary studies either
\nat the university or college level.<\/p>\n
Unless secondary students begin embracing science, there will
\nnot be the requisite numbers to take up science and mathematical
\nsubjects at the tertiary level.<\/p>\n
Deputy Education Minister Dr. Fong Chan Onn earlier this month
\nexpressed the government's concern over this matter when he
\ndisclosed that only 20 percent of the total number of fourth and
\nfifth form students opted to study pure science. His ideal figure
\nis 60 percent.<\/p>\n
He blamed the declining trend, which was first detected in the
\nlate 1980s, on the perception among many students that science is
\nmore difficult to study than arts subjects.<\/p>\n
Top government officials like Dr. Fong believe that the mental
\nblock many students face in their approach toward science and
\nmathematics can be overcome. They have warned that unless the
\nstudents change their negative attitude, Malaysia may not have
\nthe highly-trained workforce to man the facilities and resources
\nrequired to achieve "Vision 2020".<\/p>\n
While a change in the students' attitudes may seem a panacea,
\nit is by no means the solution to a problem that inevitably
\nspills over to Malaysia's delicate race-based politics.<\/p>\n
Malays and other bumiputra (indigenous peoples) make up 60
\npercent of Malaysia's multiracial population of 19 million. The
\nChinese account for 30 percent and Indians the remaining 10
\npercent.<\/p>\n
Ideally, the politically-dominant Malays and bumiputra should
\nrespond to the government's study plea. It is this group that Dr.
\nMahathir has targeted as the driving force to achieve the aims of
\n"Vision 2020" -- the Malaysian government's success in
\naffirmative action is well represented in the nation's wealthy
\nand professional class.<\/p>\n
The majority of secondary school students who have no interest
\nin science and mathematics happen to be Malays and bumiputra.
\nThey prefer to study the arts, Islamic studies and other social
\nsciences which still offer them jobs, especially within the
\ngovernment, after graduating from university.<\/p>\n
By comparison, Chinese students are more inclined to study
\nscience. Part of this explanation lies in the fact that urban
\nschools have better science facilities and mathematics teachers
\nthan rural schools. The Chinese form the majority of students in
\nurban schools.<\/p>\n
Even if many secondary students heed the call to study science
\nand mathematics, the government still faces a problem if more of
\nthem are Chinese and fewer of them are Malays.<\/p>\n
Since the success of its affirmative action policies, the
\ngovernment has greatly relaxed its pro-bumiputra politics because
\nDr. Mahathir believes that Malays are now in a position to
\ncompete with the other ethnic groups on equal terms.<\/p>\n
Other prominent Malay leaders are not so sure, and have warned
\nof the political dangers of the headlong drive into meritocracy.
\nThey say this is likely to lead to more Chinese students opting
\nfor science and mathematics at university.<\/p>\n
Former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam noted in August last
\nyear that despite the success of affirmative action, the Malays
\nmight still not be psychologically ready to the government
\nrecruiting skilled manpower based strictly on merit. He disclosed
\nthat between 1983 and 1993, less than half of the Malay students
\nin secondary schools scored good results in science and
\nmathematics.<\/p>\n
This was despite Malay students having all the advantages and
\ngood educational facilities.<\/p>\n
"This situation has been consistent every year -- and
\nobviously something needs to be done to change it," he said in
\nhis address to a forum of Malay Students in Shah Alam, the
\ncapital of the state of Selangor.<\/p>\n
Musa, presently the United Nations Human Rights Panel
\nChairman, fears that unbridled meritocracy will place the Malays
\nbehind the Chinese in science and mathematics, their position
\nbefore the New Economic Policy was introduced.<\/p>\n
"This does not mean that Vision 2020 will not succeed, but its
\nsuccess will be meaningless if there is no place in it for the
\nMalays," he said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Mahathir, Anwar and other top UMNO leaders certainly have
\na delicate balancing act to perform in encouraging more Malay
\nstudents take up science and mathematics without depriving others
\nof their opportunity to study these subjects.<\/p>\n
In encouraging more Malay students to study science and
\nmathematics, the government must ensure that its present high
\nstandard is maintained.<\/p>\n
The writer is a freelance journalist based in Singapore.<\/p>\n
Window: The majority of secondary school students who have no
\ninterest in science and mathematics happen to be Malays and bumiputra.<\/p>",
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