All set for lessons in English

KUCHING: Secondary schools in Sarawak will start teaching Science and Mathematics in English starting 2026, says state Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah.

He said this was the year when the first cohort of students learning Science and Mathematics in English in primary schools would enter Form One.

Sarawak’s dual language programme (DLP) for Science and Mathematics to be taught in English began in 2020 with Year One pupils.

Sagah said the Education Ministry had agreed for Sarawak secondary schools to use English as the medium of instruction for Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Additional Mathematics.

He said this was one of several pivotal points agreed to by the ministry in the devolution of education powers to Sarawak.

“Guided by our Attorney General’s Chambers, my ministry and the 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 said in his winding-up speech at the Sarawak assembly sitting here yesterday.

Sagah also said his ministry was in the process of planning standardised assessments for Year Six pupils to start next year and Form Three students by 2028.

This will replace the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) examinations, which have been scrapped by the Education Ministry in favour of school-based assessments.

“Our planned assessments will only involve the subjects of English as well as Mathematics and Science which are taught in English under our DLP.

“The first cohort of 2020 will sit for the assessment in 2025.

“To ensure the quality and standard of the assessment, my ministry is now in discussions with an international accredited assessment provider, due to be concluded soon,” Sagah said.