Master BM and English first, academic says on Asean languages push

Free Malaysia Today

Sharifah Munirah Alatas urges the government to release data on current language proficiency before expanding the curriculum.  Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/04/22/master-bm-and-english-first-academic-says-on-asean-languages-push  Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5 Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTNews #SharifahMunirahAlatas #EducationMinistry #AseanLanguages

Transcript

00:00An academic has questioned the rationale behind the Education Ministry's proposal to offer ASEAN languages as electives at schools,

00:09saying the focus should be on strengthening students' proficiency in Basel and Malaysia and English first.

00:15Sharifa Munira Alatas, a former assistant professor, called on the government to release data on students' current language proficiency,

00:23particularly in the national and global lingua franca.

00:28She questioned the lack of priority given to mastering Basel Malaysia and English, particularly English, beyond its use in mathematics and science subjects.

00:37Yesterday, Education Minister Falina Siddig announced that Malaysia would introduce Thai, Khmer and Vietnamese as elective languages in schools to enhance regional cooperation.

00:48However, Munira also questioned the Ministry's strategy for training teachers,

00:53saying new language policies must begin with plans to train competent educators.

00:59She also said instead of new languages, students should be exposed to subjects like world history,

01:04comparative religion, political philosophy, and Southeast Asian civilizations,

01:09areas that could strengthen national identity, and critical thinking.

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