Intro

 English  is  taught  in  all  primary  and  secondary  schools  in  the  country  in keeping with its status as a second language in the country.  The Cabinet Committee Report on the Review of the Implementation of the Education Policy 1979 states that the teaching of English is to enable learners to use English in everyday situations and work situations as well as to pursue higher education.  At present, English is still taught for the purposes of higher education and the workplace.  English  is  the  language  of  Information  Communications Technology  (ICT)  as  well  as  the  language  for  establishing  international relations in a borderless world. To enable our learners to access information on the Internet and other electronic media as well as to network with students in other parts of the country and abroad, it is important that they are proficient in the language. Such proficiency will also help learners to read and listen to academic, professional and recreational materials and  to speak in seminars and conferences.   The English curriculum  for primary schools  is designed  to provide  learners with a strong foundation in the English language. Learners will then be able to build upon  this  foundation and use  the  language  for various purposes. The development of  learners’  linguistic ability  is  in keeping with  the goals of  the National Education Philosophy and the Education Act of 1996 which seek to optimise  the  intellectual,  emotional,  spiritual  and  physical  potential  of  all students.   In  learning  the English  language,  learners  are  taught  the  fundamentals  of English grammar and how  to use  it correctly  in both speech and  in writing. Learners  are  also  taught  the  English  sound  system  to  enable  them  to pronounce words correctly and  to speak  fluently with  the correct stress and intonation so that from these early stages, pupils learn to speak internationally intelligible English.   Learners  differ  from  each  other  in  their  individual  strengths,  abilities  and learning styles and preferences. In teaching the curriculum, these differences are taken into account so that the aims and aspirations of the curriculum are fulfilled and the potential of the child is maximized.    This  document  is  the  English  Syllabus  for  primary  schools.  It  gives  an overview of the English language curriculum to be taught from Year 1 through to Year 6. This syllabus  is  for use  in both the national primary schools (SK) and  the  national  type  primary  schools  (SJK).  To  help  teachers  teach  this curriculum  in  the  classroom,  supporting  documents  known  as  syllabus specifications or  Huraian Sukatan Pelajaran  are  made  available.   In   these   documents,  the  curriculum  is  explained  in  greater  detail  for  each  year  of schooling. There is one set of specifications for each primary level schooling.   The  syllabus  outlines  the Aims, Objectives,  and  Learning Outcomes  to  be achieved. The Language Content to be taught has also been given and this includes  the sound system,  the grammar of  the English  language, and  the word list.  The contents of the syllabus can be expanded upon if learners have the ability and are proficient in the language.