According to a state minister, Sarawak’s secondary schools will progressively switch to using English as the language of teaching for science and mathematics courses beginning in 2026.

The federal education ministry has approved this decision, according to Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Minister Roland Sagah Wee Inn. A circular detailing the implementation process is currently being developed. Sagah continued, “Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics will all be taught in English. “This will initially affect Form 1 pupils in 2026 who would have finished their elementary schooling in English.

“Guided by our Sarawak Attorney-General’s Chambers, my ministry and the federal education ministry are in the process of formalizing these agreed-upon points into circulars and regulations to ensure their adherence and continuity in the future,” he said at today’s state assembly session. Furthermore, according to Sagah, Sarawakian Year 6 students will begin taking assessments in Science, English, and Mathematics in 2025, while Form 3 students will begin taking comparable tests in 2028.

These tests will take the place of the UPSR and PT3 exams, which Putrajaya terminated in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Reintroducing assessments for Year 6 and Form 3 students was also explained by Sagah, who stated that the decision to do away with major exams “does not align with our current circumstances.”

“A lot of us in this room, myself included, have experienced a number of demanding, standardized tests and exams throughout our academic careers.” It worked well and, maybe, when the time is right with considerable achievement in development, such as ample professional development opportunities for teachers, the school-based assessment may be implemented again,” he stated.

Sagah stated that talks are currently taking place with an internationally recognized assessment provider in relation to the assessments. He promised parents, instructors, and students that there would be no unnecessary stress associated with the exams.

The switch to teaching Mathematics and Science in English marks a pivotal moment in Sarawak’s educational landscape. It reflects a forward-thinking approach to education that prioritizes global readiness and lifelong learning. As 2026 approaches, the state is set on a path that promises to open new doors for its students, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.