“This will ensure a consistent stream of English proficient teachers,” said Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, chairman of the Parent Action Group for Education.

She urged the education ministry to scale up its Dual Language Programme by giving greater authority and scope to its English-language unit.

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The DLP has encountered setbacks since it was introduced in 2016 to offer pupils a choice of learning certain subjects in English. The DLP is offered by only selected secondary schools, and the programme suffers from offering only limited places and from a lack of qualified teachers.

The head of another parents group, Mak Chee Kin, suggested that retired teachers competent in the DLP be rehired on contract. “Their job would only be to teach without any need to complete paper or data work,” he said.

Mak, who heads the Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education, was confident many former teachers would return to offer their services. He said better planning and coordination was needed for smooth implementation of the DLP.

Noor Azimah and Mak lamented that the ministry had a “lackadaisical” approach towards the DLP but stressed it must continue due to its long term benefits for students.

They were commenting on the views of an FMT columnist who said the DLP’s problems could come to a head next year because of bad planning and implementation.

Azimah, highlighting the importance of English proficiency, said the education ministry must be held accountable for the programme’s failures. She called for immediate action to offer robust, meaningful and targeted teacher training.

Azimah and Mak were in agreement that the DLP should continue as there was demand for it, especially in secondary schools. “Parents want the DLP for their children as they believe in its benefits,” Azimah said.