KUALA LUMPUR: The government should bring back retired teachers with English language teaching experience rather than getting Singaporean teachers, said former minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.
On Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's discussion with his Singaporean counterpart on the possibility of sending Singaporean teachers to Malaysia, Rafidah said if Singaporean teachers were employed, they need to be paid in Singapore dollars.
"Singaporean teachers have to be paid in Singapore dollars, 3½ times more due to the exchange rate.
"Why not get retired teachers in Malaysia with English teaching experience and proficiency? There are many around and pay them the Singapore rates."
She also said that there is nothing wrong with such cooperation with another country like Singapore, but suggests that the government draw up a long-term programme for boosting English proficiency among the youth.
She also said that the government should revise the teachers' training syllabus to include English language competency and the school syllabus to include English language proficiency.
"To make it 'painless', there is no need to make English a subject for examinations. Just one subject by itself, as a language," she added.
Yesterday, Anwar said he discussed the matter with his Singaporean counterpart, Lawrence Wong, in a bilateral meeting.
Presently, Johor and Singapore are working on a joint education project with a new curriculum, which also involves the exchange of programmes and teacher training.
"We did discuss the possibility of Singapore considering my solution to send teachers to teach English and other subjects in this country," he said.