PETALING JAYA: Sarawak's secondary schools will gradually introduce English as the medium of instruction for Mathematics and Science subjects starting in 2026, says a state minister.
Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn disclosed that this decision has received approval from the federal education ministry, and a circular outlining the implementation process is being drafted.
Sagah added that English will be used for teaching Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
Initially, this change will apply to Form 1 students in 2026, who would have completed their primary education in English.
"Guided by our Sarawak Attorney-General's Chambers, my ministry and the federal education ministry are in the process of formalising these agreed-upon points into circulars and regulations to ensure their adherence and continuity in the future," he told the state assembly session today.
Additionally, Sagah said that Year 6 students in Sarawak will undergo assessments for English, Mathematics, and Science subjects starting from 2025, while Form 3 students will undergo similar examinations from 2028.
These assessments will replace the UPSR and PT3 examinations, which were discontinued by Putrajaya in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Sagah also justified the reintroduction of assessments for Year 6 and Form 3 students, saying that the decision to abolish major examinations "does not align with our current circumstances."
"So many of us here including me have gone through a series of robust standardised assessments and examinations during our school days.
"It worked well and, maybe, when the time is right with considerable achievement in development, such as ample professional development opportunities for teachers, the school-based assessment may be implemented again," he said.
Regarding the assessments, Sagah said that discussions are underway with an internationally accredited assessment provider.
He reassured that the examinations would not pose undue burdens on students, teachers, and parents.