Field notes, v1753
Page 215
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Stebbins, R. 1963 Kuala Lumpur Feb. 4 with respect to subject matter. The people sent have been state science supervisors. AF will probably also send people to the academic year institutes in the U.S. Last year the towns in eastern Malaya got "Form 6" so students could qualify for the university. There had long been a clamor for this. Malay is the national language. It is planned to make it compulsory in the schools. English is also taught so the whole will be bilingual. All English materials will have to be translated into Malay - a formidable task. There is potential hostility among the various ethnic groups -- Chinese, Indians, and Malaysans. Common language may help to bring about unity but when first proposed as a school requirement, the Chinese objected. They agreed however, when they were threatened with loss of school support. In the primary schools all languages are supported, hence this helps to ease Tensions. The language problem has reappeared on the examinations. The 30% pass program has posed difficulties. The 100% Malaysians feel they are the real residents & the country.