A QUESTION has to be asked. Who in the Education Ministry (MOE) is so brilliant to “have urged” all schools in Peninsular Malaysia to use their allocation to subscribe to mainstream Malay newspapers in the likes of Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia and Sinar Harian. If yes, how many copies each day?
Or is this a bulk purchase when other English dailies in the past were willing to give away their papers for free as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to encourage the learning of the English language?
This is perhaps a better idea for the Malay media houses, especially at a time when the printed papers are experiencing a sharp decline in copies sold. After all, this will attract advertising dollars instead of depending on more hand-outs from the government.
Knowing how MOE operates, the usage of the word “urged” is itself a subtle indication that it is enforcing a directive to all the schools. Will any conscientious principal be penalised for not utilising the school fund to purchase the newspapers?
Official statement
According to a media statement dated March 14 issued by the MOE, this is an “initiative to empower the master of Bahasa Melayu among pupils while inculcating the habit of reading the newspapers in schools”.
Hence, the three mainstream papers comprising Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia dan Sinar Harian. This further raises other questions: Why only three newspapers? What about other children’s magazines published in the national language which are more relevant?
What is the hidden motive behind this initiative other than the smokescreen that the newspapers will be “read” by the pupils?
Is this another attempt to bail out newspaper publishers who are troubled financially in view of dwindling circulation when globally even the English media is not spared from experiencing a sharp decline in the sale of their print papers?
This is a natural phenomenon simply because the trend has moved from print media to online media which can now be accessible via mobile devices. Therefore, the MOE’s initiative is not only not in line with reality but would further cause the government to bleed just to prop up a few media organisations artificially.
Or worse still, is this non-environmentally friendly measure an indoctrination exercise where schools have no control over what the pupils read, especially when young people are now eligible to vote at the age of 18.
Other means to promote Bahasa Melayu
There are better ways to help empower schoolchildren to learn the national language. Here are some initiatives that the MOE and schools can undertake without spending a single Sen:
- Encourage pupils to carry out research into a current topic, for example, Undi18 and write an essay on it. Research can be done online at home.
- Pupils can be encouraged to blog on subjects that they are passionate about. The top 10 blogs which exhibit the mastery of the language can be rewarded with good prizes.
- Set up a Speakers’ Corner to allow pupils to enjoy each other’s speech during recess time. Start a radio club where pupils can be encouraged to broadcast during recess time.
- Hold competitions for the best school essay of the month. This will motivate pupils to put more efforts to produce quality essays.
- Promote drama and acting when conducting moral classes instead of textbook learning. This will give opportunities for pupils who are weaker in the language to learn to use the language.
- Encourage debates in schools to allow pupils who are on the way to master the language to further enhance their ability to think critically and present their facts convincingly before an audience.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek who is also the PKR Nibong Tebal MP has to put a stop to the sheer wastage of public funds. Or is she the one who came out with the initiative?
Unless her ministry is bankrupt of ideas on how to enhance the mastery of the national language when the truth is that many other initiatives can be implemented. – March 14, 2024
