14/05/2026

THURSDAY | MAY 14, 2026

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PETALING JAYA: Reintroducing English-medium streams alone will not necessarily improve education quality or graduate employability, as the bigger challenge lies in students’ real-world communication and critical thinking skills, observed an educationist. National Association of Private Educational Institutions deputy president Dr Teh Choon Jin said while improving language proficiency is essential in today’s economy, a full return to English medium education may not be practical as Malaysia’s system and identity are rooted in Bahasa Melayu. He added that changing the medium of instruction alone does not guarantee better educational outcomes if schools and educators are not adequately prepared. Instead of viewing the issue as a choice between Bahasa Melayu and English, he said Malaysia should strengthen a bilingual approach by preserving Bahasa Melayu as the national language while improving English proficiency in key areas such as STEM, TVET and globally oriented industries. “The real issue is not simply the language used in classrooms but whether students can effectively learn, think critically and communicate confidently in the real world. “Employers are more concerned about graduates’ ability to function effectively in English at the workplace Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

‘Quality education goes beyond English-medium streams’

o Educationist says reforms should focus on critical thinking, communication and practical skills rather than whether they studied entirely in English.” Teh said stronger English proficiency would help Malaysians adapt to an increasingly interconnected economy, especially as many high-growth industries rely heavily on English. He said it could also improve investor confidence and provide better access to global knowledge, innovation and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. “Language alone does not determine competitiveness. Countries such as Japan, South Korea and Germany are still globally

communication confidence, critical thinking and equitable access to quality education despite scoring highly. In Malaysia, he acknowledged persistent concerns among employers and universities over graduates’ English proficiency, particularly in workplace communication and confidence. “However, these issues cannot be reduced to the medium of instruction alone. They are also linked to teacher quality, school infrastructure, reading culture and socioeconomic inequality,” he said. Ramesh said producing competent English speakers depends on multiple factors beyond policy changes, including the quality of teachers, school environments and classroom approaches. “Students must see English not simply as a school requirement, but as a tool for communication, creativity, knowledge and participation in wider global conversations. “School environments should actively encourage English use through debates, presentations, reading activities and digital engagement.” Ramesh also cautioned against framing Bahasa Melayu and English as competing languages, saying both should instead be viewed as complementary tools within a multilingual society. He suggested adopting more flexible bilingual approaches in schools, such as using Bahasa Melayu and English materials within the same subject, while allowing students to present ideas in either language depending on the context. “Such an approach reflects how multilingual societies actually function.” – By Qirana Nabilla Mohd Rashidi Teh said Malaysia can learn from multilingual countries that successful language education requires careful planning, trained teachers and long term commitment, while balancing a strong national language with English for global communication. “Ultimately, the goal is functional language skills so that students can use both languages confidently, making them both nationally grounded and globally competitive.” change how Bahasa Melayu is viewed, not in law but in public perception. He added that if English is seen as more useful for jobs and mobility, Bahasa Melayu may be seen as less competitive, even though its official role remains unchanged. “However, this can be avoided. Many multilingual countries successfully balance their national language with English. The key is to ensure Bahasa Melayu remains strong and respected while English is taught as a global skill, with multilingualism as Malaysia’s main strength.”

He said many global English proficiency rankings fail to reflect the full realities of national education systems. Such assessments, he said, are often based on self-selected participants or urban populations and do not adequately capture rural-urban disparities, socioeconomic inequalities, multilingual realities or broader educational goals. “In public discourse, English proficiency is closely associated with employability, job security and upward mobility, creating strong pressure on governments, schools and parents.” Ramesh said this pressure has fuelled the expansion of private tuition industries in countries such as South Korea, China and Japan, with a similar trend emerging in Malaysia, where English is increasingly viewed as a critical advantage in the job market. He said the growing demand has benefited the tuition and educational materials industry, but warned that it also comes at a human cost. “In highly competitive systems, children may ultimately be paying the price,” he said, adding that excessive academic pressure could negatively affect students’ emotional well-being and relationship with learning. Ramesh also stressed that strong English rankings do not necessarily translate into deeper educational strengths, noting that some countries continue to struggle with globally.” He said any move to introduce English-medium streams should be tested first in both urban and rural areas to ensure it does not widen social and education gaps or become seen as only for elite students. “English should be seen as a practical skill and opportunity for all Malaysians, not a status symbol.” Teh said the biggest challenges in introducing English-medium streams are teacher readiness, inequality and lack of resources. “Many teachers were trained mainly in Bahasa Melayu and may not yet be prepared to teach complex subjects fully in English, as it requires more than just fluency but also the ability to explain concepts clearly and support students effectively.” Beyond operational challenges, Teh stressed that Bahasa Melayu plays an important role in national identity and unity, making any reform involving language highly sensitive. He also said introducing English medium streams could, over time,

competitive while using their national languages in education. What matters most is education quality, skills and innovation. “Many Malaysian graduates may do well in exams but still struggle with communication, confidence and critical thinking at the workplace. Education reforms should therefore focus on teacher training, industry relevant learning, internships and practical English skills.” Teh warned that reintroducing English-medium streams could widen inequality, as rural students are not less capable but have less exposure to English outside the classroom compared with urban students who have access to tuition, digital content and English-speaking environments. “Crucially, any shift must be equitable so that rural and underprivileged students are supported, not left behind. “Malaysia’s strength lies in multilingualism and graduates who can confidently use multiple languages will have an advantage

Global rankings fall short PETALING JAYA: Malaysia should be wary of over-relying on international English proficiency rankings and resist treating English-medium instruction as a quick fix for deeper education challenges, said Asian Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language vice-president Dr Ramesh Nair.

Mohd Azam said guru bitara areeducators with outstanding qualities who encompass knowledge, skills, emotional balance and spiritual strength in shaping a generation of well-rounded individuals. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

Building future-ready high-calibre teachers KUALA LUMPUR: The concept of guru bitara (high-calibre educators) has been identified as a key pillar in ensuring the success of the National Education Plan (RPM) 2026-2035 in addressing global challenges and digital transformation over the next decade. individuals we aim to produce require teachers who are bitara . A bitara teacher is unmatched in passion, knowledge, skills, emotional and psychological balance, as well as commitment to the responsibility and trust of educating the nation’s children.” Mohd Azam said this during an appearance on the Ruang Bicara programme titled Guru Bitara Nadi Negara (examplary teachers are pulse of nation), aired on Bernama TV on Tuesday night.

challenges our children will face in the future. They are growing up in a borderless world where external values are increasingly influencing their lives. We want educators who are aligned with the needs of the times.” On teachers’ welfare and workload, Mohd Azam assured that continuous efforts are being made to reduce non-professional administrative burdens so teachers can focus fully on classroom instruction. He also reminded school administrators not to become overly focused on “ranking” culture or excessive competition in activities that could affect teachers’ creativity and mental well-being. – Bernama

Education director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said the concept goes beyond titles, describing educators with outstanding qualities that encompass knowledge, skills, emotional balance and spiritual strength in shaping a generation of well-rounded individuals. He said the RPM, launched earlier this year by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, outlines a clear strategy to nurture individuals who excel not only academically but also in soft skills. “That is why the educated

He said the teaching profession faces increasingly complex challenges in the digital era, especially with the rise of technologies such as artificial intelligence and the influence of a borderless world that demands transformation in teaching methods. “Teachers must understand the