DONG Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) has urged the Education Ministry not to rush into implementing elementary English literature in primary schools, reported Sin Chew Daily.

The association is of the view that the ministry must get the opinions of educationists before starting such classes.

Association chairman Dr Yap Sin Tian said while elementary English literature classes would help improve students' proficiency in the language, studies must be conducted to find out whether it was feasible to start such a subject in schools.

"It is more practical to create a good learning environment, set up language laboratories and improve conversational English among students, rather than implement English literature at schools," he said.

United Chinese School Teachers Association president Ong Chiaw Chuen questioned if there would be enough time for schools to accommodate English Literature classes.

"Other subjects have filled out most of the timetable. If we start English Literature classes at schools, would there be enough time for the existing English subject?" he asked.

He said English Literature should only be complementary reading material at schools and not an examination subject, or it would further burden students.

Abolish teaching Mathematics and Science in English

China Press reported yesterday that Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong denied that the Government had decided to abolish the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English.

It had been reported in another newspaper that this had been decided.

"The Government will make a decision on whether the policy should be continued after studying the UPSR results this year," he said.