PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA - The hiring of 13,933 teachers and additional teaching time for English in both primary and secondary schools are among the measures being taken by the Government to strengthen the teaching and learning of English.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this includes 'importing' 1,000 teachers from overseas, hiring 600 retired teachers and an additional 12,333 teachers from teacher training institutes, and public and private higher education institutions.

'Schools in rural and remote areas will get the best teachers,' he said when announcing a reversal of the Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English (ETeMS or better known by its Malay acronym, PPSMI) policy which was implemented in 2003.

Muhyiddin, who is Education Minister, said the ministry would also provide assistant teachers with a grade of DG41 for large classes with more than 35 students in Years One and Two to increase the contact time between teachers and students.

Other measures to strengthen the teaching and learning of English in schools include:

• Time allocated for English in Level One (Years One to Three) for national schools will be increased by 90 minutes to 330 minutes a week, while for Level Two (Years Four to Six) to 300 minutes a week;
• Time allocated for English in Level One at vernacular schools will be increased 100% from 60 minutes to 120 minutes a week, and for Level Two from 90 minutes to 120 minutes a week;
• Time allocated for English in Form One to Six will be added 80 minutes from 200 minutes to 280 minutes a week;
• Time allocated for the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) in Form Six will be increased by 80 minutes to 400 minutes a week;
• Time allocated for English in Matriculation will increase 100% from three hours to six hours a week;
• Laboratories for the learning of English will be implemented in schools; and
• Grammar will be emphasised in the teaching and learning of English.

Muhyiddin said the ministry would also introduce a Contemporary English Literature Programme For Children to inculcate the reading habit and introduce elements of literature.

To expose students to scientific terms, elements of science and technology will be absorbed into the teaching of English, he added.

Other initiatives include having an English Day at school and a summer camp during the holidays.

'We believe this new approach will strengthen Bahasa Malaysia and English proficiency, and increase the capability of students to master science and technology, which is important for the country's future,' he said.

Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said the measures for English would be implemented next year.