Malay one of the most popular Cambridge IGCSE subjects among students in Malaysia

The fact that more students are taking the Cambridge qualifications examinations should not come as a surprise to us in Malaysia. The University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is a provider of international qualifications for students between the ages of 14 and 19, offering examinations and qualifications in more than 150 countries. CIE first developed the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) more than 20 years ago for an international student body and if I recall correctly they were the examinations body before we gained independence from the British.

A long history of excellence gives them an added advantage in attracting students. Students and parents are confident that these qualifications would open doors to greater opportunity in further education and career prospects. That confidence in what they can offer is their selling point.

What intrigued me most about the news item was the fact that Malay was one of the most popular subjects taken besides English and Mathematics. How did CIE manage to instill confidence to such an extent that even students from Malaysia are taking the Malay subject offered under the Cambridge examinations? I thought our Malaysian Examinations Board despite the brickbats hurled against them would at least be the premier examinations board for the Malay Language paper. I guess I'm mistaken.

I still remember a time when Malaysian teachers were marking Malay Language examination papers from all over the world but I guess that was under the auspices of Cambridge too and not the Malaysian Examinations Board. It is strange that Malaysia which enshrines the Malay Language as the National Language in its constitution is not the premier centre for the language. Can someone shed some light on this?

Image from kingdjango