Importance of English as a medium of instruction
 

BY ANDREW Scott

FROM recent times there has been a renewed interest among many in Sri Lanka for the study of more and better English and this is the most opportune time for us to think about the great importance of English as a medium of instruction for those students and adults who are keen to receive instruction in this language.

The fact cannot be denied that today English is a universal medium of instruction in many developing countries throughout the world and it would be unique if Sri Lanka too could follow suit.

It is an accepted fact that for the last few years there is a popular demand in Sri Lanka, particularly in the towns, for an English education as can be seen from the proliferating International Schools that have sprung up throughout the country.

Many decades ago there was much dissatisfaction in some quarters about the exclusive use of English as the medium of instruction in our schools.

However, today the popular clamour among many parents and students is to make English a medium of instruction without treading on the right to continue the medium of education in the mother tongue - either Sinhala or Tamil, for those who desire to do their education in these languages.

The making of English also a medium of instruction would contribute appreciably to the promotion of inter-communal, inter-religious and inter-linguistic harmony as was seen when English was the only medium of instruction in Sri Lanka several decades ago.

English as a medium of instruction will also give an impetus for the maintenance of the unity of Sri Lanka and to keep in touch with other countries, and promote the mutual exchange and stimulation of ideas in the spheres of scholarship, science, international commerce and industry and catalyse the rapid economic and cultural progress of this country.

One may argue that it is sufficient if the average Sri Lankan has a practical command of the English language and that there is absolutely no need to make English also a medium of instruction.

However, it is more advantageous to both the students as well as the country at large to give English a legitimate place in the school and university curriculum by elevating it to the status of a medium of instruction.

The popular belief that English education is not for the masses does not persist in our society today and a large number of parents and students go out of their way spending large sums of money to procure for themselves a sound English education by enroling themselves in reputed International Schools which charge exorbitant fees for their specialised service.

While the mother tongue should continue as the medium of instruction there should not be any hindrance to provide facilities to have English too as a medium of instruction in our schools and seats of higher learning such as the universities.

We must also realise that English as a medium of instruction is vastly different from English as a school subject.

At a time when we are so concerned about human rights (and even animal rights!) children, particularly in the higher classes, should be given the option to select the medium of their education.

In Sri Lanka's universities many students find it practically difficult to master the English terminology and to comprehend the facts given in medical, engineering and allied fields written in English.

At this level there are only a handful of text books written in the mother tongue and the students are doubly burdened with having to continue their university education (except in the Art) in the English medium in spite of the fact that they have received their complete school education in the mother tongue.

This is the very sorry spectacle witnessed by us today and this is a grave set-back to all the university students.

No doubt the re-introduction of English as a medium of instruction in our schools will be beset with special practical difficulties. But these have to be faced bravely and a bold step has to be taken at least now for the future prosperity of the country as well as the student population.