Malaysia to hire teachers from China to teach Mandarin and Maths

To improve the numeracy level and multilingualism in Malaysia, the government has proposed to China to send its teachers to teach Mandarin and mathematics in Malaysia.

In a recent research, children of factory workers and cleaners in Shanghai were better at maths than the children of doctors and lawyers in Britain. In the latest round of tests by the Program for International Student Assessment, Shanghai's students were about three years ahead of the average among member nations in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

As a result, Britain had 60 teachers flown  in from Shanghai to share their methods. Currently, there are about 500 Chinese maths teachers in Britain.

Hoping to replicate this programme, Malaysia has proposed to bring in Mandarin and mathematics teachers from China. The proposal has received positive response from the Chinese government, according to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

"Officers from bother countries will work out the details, such as the number of teachers and language experts China can provide," he said. "I suggested that the programme begin next year."