Malaysia to teach Mandarin, Tamil at national primary schools

National primary schools in Malaysia will start teaching the languages of Mandarin and Tamil next year to allow students, especially those of Chinese and Indian descents, to learn their mother tongues.

Malaysian Education director-general had been directed to implement such policy from 2010, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said during a question and answer session at a talk series held near here on Tuesday.

Muhyiddin, who is also Malaysian Education Minister, said that parents will be allowed to decide if they want their children to study the languages at the schools.

One of the uniqueness of the country's education system is that besides national primary schools, there are also the so-called national-type vernacular primary schools where classes are conducted in the languages of Mandarin and Tamil respectively.