The Impact of Language of Instruction in Schools on Student Achievement : Evidence from Malaysia Using the Synthetic Control Method
This paper employs the synthetic control method to examine the impact of using a non-native language as the medium of instruction in schools on a student’s learning. Exploiting an unanticipated policy change in Malaysia and using data from the Tren...
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| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/786821611171903155/The-Impact-of-Language-of-Instruction-in-Schools-on-Student-Achievement-Evidence-from-Malaysia-Using-the-Synthetic-Control-Method http://hdl.handle.net/10986/35031 |
| Summary: | This paper employs the synthetic control
method to examine the impact of using a non-native language
as the medium of instruction in schools on a student’s
learning. Exploiting an unanticipated policy change in
Malaysia and using data from the Trends in International
Mathematics and Science Studies, the results show that
changing the medium of instruction negatively influenced
eighth graders’ achievement in mathematics and science. The
differential performance, by year and gender, suggests that
using a non-native language throughout a student’s schooling
may have greater negative impact on the student’s learning
than switching the language of instruction in the middle of
the student’s schooling does. This paper sheds light on the
various manners in which a language policy can adversely
affect a student’s learning outcomes. It also highlights how
the transition in switching the language of instruction in
schools can be implemented more effectively to mitigate its
adverse effects. |
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