KOTA KINABALU: A 36-year-old school teacher has applied to the High Court here to be registered as an applicant for judicial review against the Education Minister’s decision to abolish the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI).

Evelyn June Charlie of Papar, made her application to be joint applicant in the judicial review with lawyer Marcel Jude Joseph who filed the action in November last year.

Evelyn made the application through her counsel Joseph at the High Court’s registry yesterday. The application for leave will be heard on Jan 11, this year before High Court judge Dato’ Abdul Rahman Sebli.

Evelyn who has been a teacher for the past seven years, is currently teaching at SK Stella Marris, Tanjung Aru. She is also a counsellor at the school.

In her affidavit, Evelyn, who is a mother to two daughters aged six and three years old said, she is deeply concerned over the abolition of the usage of PPSMI which will affect the children’s development in education and intellect and seriously hamper the development of education in the state as well.

She said the usage of English is very important especially in the development of the state.

“In any event, the restriction or termination of English usage in the state of Sabah is unlawful and ultra vires Article 161 of the Federal Constitution.

“If Section 17 of the Education Act is to be applied in the state of Sabah there must first be an approving act in the State Legislative Assembly. As this has not been done the teaching and usage of English in PPSMI cannot be abolished,” she argued.

In his application for leave for judicial review filed on Nov 14, 2011, Joseph is seeking for an order of certiorari insofar as the state of Sabah is concerned to quash the respondent’s decision to abolish the PPSMI and to continue with its implementation.

Joseph who is deputy president of the La Salle Alumni Association also seeks an order to restrain the respondent from abolishing PPSMI and a further declaration that the decision by the respondent to abolish PPSMI was ultra vires and unlawful.

Joseph in making the application relies on Articles 152, 161 and 121 of the Federal Constitution, Sections 1 and 2 of the National Language Act 1963/67 (Act 32), the Preamble and Sections 2 abd 3 of the National Language (Application) Enactment, 1973, Point 2 of the 20 Points Agreement and Section 17 of the Education Act 1996.



Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/06/teacher-applies-to-be-joint-applicant-for-judicial-review-against-abolishing-ppsmi/#ixzz1kLnjoaE3