Sarawak group proposes voluntary DLP tests for SJKC pupils
PETALING JAYA : Some Chinese primary schools (SJKC) in Sarawak are considering allowing pupils to voluntarily sit for the dual language programme assessment, despite their exclusion from the programme.
Jonathan Chai, president of the Association of Aided Chinese Primary Schools in the Kuching, Samarahan, and Serian divisions, said the proposal is being considered as a way to assess pupils' academic performance in science and mathematics.
However, Chai warned that the results might not offer a complete picture, The Borneo Post reported.
'Since SJKCs are not officially part of the dual language programme, any data gathered would mainly serve as an internal benchmark,' he told reporters after a visit to SJKC Chung Hua Batu 11 in Matang.
He said SJKC pupils could potentially sit for the test voluntarily within their own schools for self-evaluation purposes.
He emphasised that full participation in the DLP would require formal approval from the federal education ministry. 'For now, we continue to teach science and mathematics in Mandarin, which remains the most effective method for the majority of our students,' he said.
Chai also pointed to a changing student population, noting that around 40% of SJKC pupils now come from non-Chinese backgrounds – prompting a reassessment of the current language policy.
'We are also paying close attention to the outcomes of DLP assessments in national primary schools,' he added. 'If those results indicate significant gains in student performance, it may influence our future direction,' he added.
In May last year, state deputy education minister Annuar Rapaee said the DLP programme, currently implemented in national primary schools, will be extended to secondary schools across the state.
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