Salam to all.
For GGGE 2123 course, one of the tasks is to come out with an entry or I better say discussion, regarding educational issue. We often heard about all sorts of issues in education, from PPSMI, gender bias in education, co-curricular, proficiency in English to nonetheless the educational system itself.
For this task, I would like to discuss on the educational system in Malaysia. Prior to that, let's look back at the definition of the key word, which is education. In a broad sense, education simply means the process of teaching or learning in a school or college, or the knowledge that you get from this. This basic definition is taken from Cambridge Dictionary Online. While it can also be defined as a process of cognitive cartography, mapping your experiences and finding a variety of reliable routes to optimal states of mind regardless of the situation you are in. Being an educated person means you are able to perceive accurately, think clearly and act effectively to achieve self selected goals and aspirations.
However, when we look back at the educational system in Malaysia, does it really work out with the second definition? Some people would merely and harshly say that it does not work such way. Why? Education is the responsibility of the Government and it is committed to providing a sound education to all. Yet in my opinion, the responsibility is not only to be put on the hands of the Government who imposes the system per say, but we, as the citizens who need the education have to cooperate and voice our views, in order to get a good education. Note that I am not saying that Malaysia has a poor educational system, but I am trying to recall on our educational system then and currently imposing to us.
We have a system of schooling of long years, from pre-school, through elementary (primary school) and secondary school. They make a total of 12 years of a child to complete his schooling. But what is with the overall output that he gets? Is he going to be a skilfully and creative employer later? Or in other way, a geek who does not even know how to present himself appropriately for an interview? Our educational system is being exam-oriented. When I reminisce my school years, the students are recruited to study all night long, to prepare for the tests each week, with a total of 10 or more subjects (for Form 4 and Form 5 students). Yes, we are all bookworms, or I must say revision-book-geeky-worms. It is stressful but it is kind of rule or imposition to abide, or otherwise you will not get your straight A's and will pull your school ranking down. As for me, I have done pure sciences in my school years and pursued it as well in matriculation (foundation-alike). But what I am majoring now is something totally different which is English Language Studies since I found that Sciences has become quite an alien to me.
Back to the topic, I think Malaysia should take the western countries as an example. For instance, Australia. There, students are not only drilled with books, homework and exams but the style is more practical, hands-on kind of learning. One of my lecturers once a teacher in Australia and he shared his experience teaching through Aussie educational system. Yes, students there starts their classes just like us, in the morning. Then around 10, it is not a mere recess time, but they got to play. What is meant here is they do the hands-on activities like science experiment and of course learning in a creative way, technology and innovation. Besides, they only have three subjects thought in school which are Social Studies, Language and Science. Their science subject varies, but composed in only one subject, Science. Unlike us, in which we have Biology, Physics, Chemistry, EST (for my generation), Maths and the craziest, Add Maths. But at the end of the day, our learning, drill practice, homework are just the preparation for examination. I repeat, for EXAMINATION..And you can guess what it will be like after the exam? Even a step out of the exam hall, it is likely that almost all sorts of information are forgotten. Don't you think it is somehow useless, and pathetic?
So, I think we, as the children, teenagers, youth and even adults who always need education and lifelong learning, need to voice our opinion regarding this issue. We need the practical, communicative and task-based kind of learning, as well as teaching. For instance, the application of technology in education such as the use of software for subjects, practically is now implemented for Maths and Sciences. In addition, I think we can as well make it through with other subjects, such as Geography, English and Arts by applying the GIS, grammar and machine translation and CAD software respectively. Other than that, hands-on activities should be ensured involved by all students and teachers should put their primary concern on this. Field trip is promoted to all students regardless of their competency as each and every children deserve education fairly.
Last but not least, it is crucial to always keep in mind that education is not something that you learn and understand to be tested on paper, but it is a lifetime learning involving human interaction and promoting skills and creativity.
Back to the topic, I think Malaysia should take the western countries as an example. For instance, Australia. There, students are not only drilled with books, homework and exams but the style is more practical, hands-on kind of learning. One of my lecturers once a teacher in Australia and he shared his experience teaching through Aussie educational system. Yes, students there starts their classes just like us, in the morning. Then around 10, it is not a mere recess time, but they got to play. What is meant here is they do the hands-on activities like science experiment and of course learning in a creative way, technology and innovation. Besides, they only have three subjects thought in school which are Social Studies, Language and Science. Their science subject varies, but composed in only one subject, Science. Unlike us, in which we have Biology, Physics, Chemistry, EST (for my generation), Maths and the craziest, Add Maths. But at the end of the day, our learning, drill practice, homework are just the preparation for examination. I repeat, for EXAMINATION..And you can guess what it will be like after the exam? Even a step out of the exam hall, it is likely that almost all sorts of information are forgotten. Don't you think it is somehow useless, and pathetic?
So, I think we, as the children, teenagers, youth and even adults who always need education and lifelong learning, need to voice our opinion regarding this issue. We need the practical, communicative and task-based kind of learning, as well as teaching. For instance, the application of technology in education such as the use of software for subjects, practically is now implemented for Maths and Sciences. In addition, I think we can as well make it through with other subjects, such as Geography, English and Arts by applying the GIS, grammar and machine translation and CAD software respectively. Other than that, hands-on activities should be ensured involved by all students and teachers should put their primary concern on this. Field trip is promoted to all students regardless of their competency as each and every children deserve education fairly.
Last but not least, it is crucial to always keep in mind that education is not something that you learn and understand to be tested on paper, but it is a lifetime learning involving human interaction and promoting skills and creativity.
References:
It is something that becomes issue in Malaysia nowadays. Yes, it's true that once you leave examination hall, you already loss the knowledge slowly. Therefore, I think that learning with application is the most effective way in learning.
ReplyDeleteyes, that's what i've been thinking since my school years and it is well known to happen. what also worries me is what will happen to our next generation? will there be any changes then?
ReplyDeleteI agree in this topic. We were all drilled into exams but not for real life. The applications are all being introduce in higher institutions. However, I will not blame the government policies 100 percent. Students themselves take that knowledge for exams and do not apply them in life. Wherever in schools or in higher institutions this attitude has been fossilized. What the students must do regardless of the policies is to apply the knowledge. No knowledge is wasteful. Thank you for bringing up the topic. It is very enlightening.
ReplyDeletefrom,
Nor Amirul Arshad A126280
Tq Ameer for your response in this topic. yes we should't point our fingers to the government per say, the attitude of students also matters. I think a good way of learning only starts in higher educational institutions, just like what you said, and basically this is to prepare for the workplace later..
ReplyDeleteaisha hassan
A128719
According to our previous Education Minister, Musa Ahmad, Malaysia is revamping its school system to make it less exam-oriented in order to move to better gauge students' abilities. As to do so, pupils at primary and secondary schools will get 30 per cent of their marks from course work, while the other 70 per cent will be from examinations. Hence, I think that there has been certain effort to overcome this issue but maybe the implementation is not that effective enough.
ReplyDeleteDiana Jopes (A 129388)
Yes, i've also informed of that. But as far as I may concern, the course work is still lacking in the sense of collective benefits in which not all students are into the course work offered. Perhaps some of them have their interest in arts, acting, media and whatnot..
ReplyDeleteaisha hasssan
A128719