This interesting editorial is adapted from The Star on 14/08/2008.
Honestly speaking, i do not like any form of examination neither from UPSR to STPM nor the ISO-nized examination system in UPM. When i was doing my SCL survey, one of the respondent stated that SCL implementation should allow students to study the subjects or courses which they prefer to instead of fixing all the syllabus. I agree entirely, because interest plays an very important role to succeed, without interest, it just like forcing a person to be your couple, even though if it is successful, but without a key element, that is happiness. To sum up, the relationship will not last forever, or only temporary sustainable.
14 comments:
I'm more than agree on this. Forcing the student to study the things they are not interested is nothing but a pain!
Education system now days are more like creating study machine than critical thinking students. Students with potential in succeeding certain field get trouble for the things that they-hate-it-but-they-need-to-study-it.
There are many cases where the students don't get to enroll into the university just because they did badly in some subject such as Pengajian Am. I had a friend which is one of this type, He got all A for the other subjects but did badly for PA. He tried to enter UM but failed. Now he ended up in Singapore, and did pretty well there.
He told me that he might consider to stay there or move to Australia after his graduation because the system disappoint him so badly.
If there's a chance to turn the table, do it now! Malaysia can't afford on losing more potential students just because of these silly things!
Lion,
Your statement is rather contradict, I could only agree until you started to give a real-life example.
PA is the subject that implanting Nasionalism, Patriotism, and Malaysia-ism to students/learners as well as critical, objective, rational, logical, sensible and judicious mindset.
It sounds sad when your friend was rejected. However, I understand the reason your friend opted Singapore to further studies and might be going to migrate upon his graduation.
To avoid such incident, the status of this fascinating subject is more suitable to be labelled as COMPULSORY/NECESSARY.
After graduation, I wish your friend will prefer to go home so as to contribute to our country and witness the transform if possible.
Well the question here is : Does PA really successfully implanting Nationalism, Patriotism, and Malaysia-ism to students/learners?
In my opinion, Nationalism, Patriotism, and Malaysia-ism are not to implement through text, but rather by action. By getting A in PA doesn't show that you are a person who loves your country; similarly by getting A in moral doesn't mean that you have a good moral attitude.
I'm not saying the intention are wrong here, but the method. Forcing things onto others will only make them hate it more.
lion~
Lion,
I don't think PA is all about patriotism, it is more like a subject for students to getting into know Malaysia as our country. The problem that lion's friend experience had is the education system not the subject.But in the end, your friend did get to study what he wants.
We were given the chance to choose what we liked to study during Form 4 and form 6, the idea was good, but the implementation was bad.
I agree with your statement that forcing students to study what they are not interested is a pain for students. Nowadays, students are forced to learn things they are not interested but there is more to blame than our education system. Parents, society, and many other things also have altered the true meaning of education.
It is time for us to go back to the basic and get to know what 'educate' truly means.
just bear for a few more years and we'll be out of this education system. :) Life is not always the way we want it to be but 'what doesn't kill just makes us stronger', right? After all, working life will be another very different phase of life, completely different from students life, where i believe is the real beginning of everything...
myc,
some of the lecturers wanted to read your blog. is your blog set to public?
Talking about PA is it is just about Nationalism, Patriotism, and Malaysia-ism? Allow me not to verify my stand towards this statement. I don't have any real life example here but let us assume that we will be the future computer and communication system engineer who don't study any subject such as kenegaraan, PA, sejarah Malaysia and so on. How can you tag yourself as a graduate engineer in Malaysia without having any general knowledge (I am referring to PA, kenegaraan ...)? Think, don't you feel ashame? You don't but I will.
Talking about our education system, yes it does really a bad education system. Why?
(i) Syllabus of our education
(ii) Ways of assessment
(iii) Quality of teacher
(iv) System of dealing with independent and none independent school or (subsidized, half subsidized and not subsidized school
(v) Quality of higher education system
I think there are a lot I don't mentioned here but really Malaysia education system still need to improve.
Can i ask is there anyone think that he or she able to change the current education system? I don't think so. Malaysia has to consider too much of things (as usual) before it can implement something. Since you can't change then you should suit yourself in this kind of education system but in the other hand you should keep upgrade yourself to make yourself different from others. As hy said, this may makes us stronger if we survive in this system.
I think my sentence was quite misleading... let me rephrase it a little
- PA, Sejarah are knowledge about the country, it doesn't implant Nationalism, Patriotism, and Malaysia-ism to the students; getting A in these subject shows how good are you in memorizing text, but fails to show how much you love the country.
- Never in a word I said these subject SHOULD be removed. Instead, method of studying it should be changed.
- And to be very honest, I know my country through papers and books, not PA and Sejarah. I would read books about 31/8/57 or article about Tunku Abdul Rahman, because I don't need to take exam after reading it, I'm really enjoying reading these books however PA and Sejarah, does not.
- It is true that nobody can change the flawed education system in M'sia. But if nobody voice out the problem it would continue to damage the next generation, don't you think so?
Lion,
Please try to compare the ISO-nized exam question form SKP2101-Kenegaraan, SKP2203-TITAS, SKP2204-Etnik with STPM PA. You should see the huge different. The former subjects need portable Hard Disc memory to score while the latter does not.
I have to admit that, i study and memorize for the sake of scoring. But i enjoy the process of learning, it is priceless.
hy & ccw,
i appreciate your shape view, i learn alot. Thankz
SKP2101-Kenegaraan, SKP2203-TITAS, SKP2204-Etnik are rather, partially portable hard disk method of studying.
I'd say I enjoy the time where I did the group assignments where there is a Kadazan, and 2 Malay students in the group. But in the same time I hate the text memorizing text part where I need to read through 30 page of notes just for the sake of the subject.
To make the things sounds more easier, I hate memorizing stuff, and I hate even more when I were forced to memorizing things. Well can't blame on others since this is my attitude problem, sigh.
Do you think that there is any freedom for us to voice out our problem? If it is, then the one who is singing "Negaraku2" won't being sued.
ccw,
can i mock and tease your name without you being angry with me? it is freedom of speech right?? have you forgotten what Lord Buddha has taught us? have you forgotten for any path taken they should be taken moderately?
say if you upset me, can i tease and make fun or make a song cursing cynically your MOTHER? it is freedom of speech and will you not sue me?i bet you will. if you wont, do tell me and i can have posters put up on every board we have in the faculty teasing your MOTHER.take this is as no threat but thing for you to ponder!
if you cannot respect your national anthem, when you can make fun of it, when you cannot embrace the meaning of Negaraku, i tell you this, THERE WILL BE NO EDUCATION SYSTEM CAN CATER FOR THIS SICKENING MENTALITY. FREEDOM OF EVERYTHING, yeah right.
so tell me, how much freedom should be granted to one? remember, too much of anything will bring only suffering. you shall not voice your problem, you should have suggest what is the next best thing to deal with the problem.
i taught you to think before you write and think before you act. yes, i am offended, since that BOY WAS TEASING MY MOTHERLAND.
get the fact right, he wasnt sued. the dad apologized on behalf of him when he himself arrogantly said he didnt do anything wrong. freedom of speech???ungrateful lad.
P/S: this comment is meant for comment written on August 17, 2008 12:47 AM by CCW. none concerned the previous comment.
-Azrin is pissed off-
Yes, I admit that everything done must be taken moderately. Allow me to apologized upon the example I quoted is misleading the message that I want to deliver. I can see that anger in between the words written. Indeed, I love my country very much. Example given is not mean that I stand aside with him. There is still a big gap between my perception of looking towards this issue- freedom of speech and him. I am an educated and civilised person. Things WON'T CHANGE by teasing and voicing like a fool. I LOVE both of my MUM very much. Noone can tease my mum or make fool of her. The issue I am trying to bring out is freedom of speech towards the education system today. Take note that I never support that BOY who WAS TEASING OUR (I have to emphasize) MOTHERLAND.
Everything should has its borderline and duty included freedom. If not, everyone will misuse the freedom given.
It is a tuft week that we all have gone through. Test + Assignment + Pesta Tanglung = saturated. I just submitted my assignment. My mind become clearer towards this discussed topic.
Refer to the previous comment that I commented, I keep blaming government even I mentioned that we, as a student should voice out our feeling.
Think out of box, we shouldn't blame any party about the education system. Why? Do we as a student really act like a student- willing to learn, appreciate knowledge? No, attitude of student is important in the education system. This system is about give and take from both parties. How a educator give their knowledge to us if we are not ready to take? This is a never ended process. This is life long learning process. Complain won't make things better but I am sure it will screw up everything.
Learn to look at things from different perception. Your life will feel better.
~saturated ccw~
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