TEACHING OF SCIENCE/MATHS IN ENGLISH STUDY STILL ON

KUALA TERENGGANU (Malaysia), Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi said Thursday a decision on the teaching of Science and Mathematics
in the English language would only be made after the completion of the study on
the matter.

"This is not an issue on which the government has chosen to remain silent.
It is an issue on which you cannot make all kinds of comments. Comments, if any,
should be based on the study," he told reporters after attending an event here
to honour the deeds of former youth leaders of the Kuala Terengganu district as
well as state athletes.

Abdullah was asked to comment on the opposition's use of the issue in its
campaign to garner votes from the Malays in the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary
by-election on Saturday.

The prime minister said the Education Ministry was still studying the matter
in terms of several aspects, including the latest results of the Ujian
Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah or UPSR (national examination to gauge the performance
of primary school pupils) and Penilaian Menengah Rendah or PMR (national
examination to gauge the peformance of lower secondary school students)
examinations.

"A study is also being made in reference to the capability of the teachers,
the position of the Malay language and the Federal Constitution besides making a
comparison in the performance of rural and urban schools.

"All the information from these aspects will be compiled into a report to be
submitted to the Cabinet and a decision will be made after a Cabinet
discussion," he said.

Earlier, when speaking at the event, Abdullah said the younger generation
had the responsibility to build on the progress thus far achieved.
-- BERNAMA