For instance, in the current row over the PSD scholarships, many are barking up the wrong tree. Far beyond the debate about the distribution of scholarships to local and foreign universities, the core issue is the declining standards of education in Malaysia. How many actually question why it is so easy to score distinctions and why there is the ridiculous introduction of A* in the grading system?
Our youth are being led by their noses, lulled into thinking that they are good when they receive their result slips when the grade is meaningless compared to standards years ago. Take a look at the current syllabus for English and Sejarah. Compare the literature component with that which was taught five years ago and you would be shocked by the disparity in standards! Compare the sejarah syllabus with what was taught in the 1970's and one can safely conclude that our youth are not being educated properly.
Tragically, many just look at their own needs and desires. That is understandable because it is survival for the fittest. So they attend tuition classes, memorise answers, abandon critical thinking skills, participate in extra-curricular activities just so they have the edge in scholarship application etc etc and lose sight of what it means to be educated, to be nurtured because such processes are ABSENT in our system.
How many of our elected leaders actually realize that the education system is the key to the nation's development? How many actually lobby to RAISE standards by making it MORE difficult to score? How many actually scrutinize the way examinations are being planned, prepared - especially with regards to marking schemes, syllabus content and pedagogical skills?
In the 1970's, we had the MCE and it was tough to score. Only a handful in each state could score straight A's unlike the current ridiculous trend. And those in my cohort who scored straight A's at MCE and HSC levels, are now Associate Professors/Professors at Harvard University, University of Edinburgh and other Canadian/Australian/American/British universities. In my contact hours with college students, I have been appalled by the horrible scenario whereby 10A students, even 12A1 JPA scholars cannot string a proper sentence.
Recently, I was asked to help three adults - one a PhD student from a local university, another a Dean's List winner from another local university and the third - a graduate in Human Resources. I was horrified when I discovered they could not write a simple essay about themselves and was absolutely appalled at their inability to make sentences simply because they had no idea of the difference between a noun, an adjective, a verb or an adverb. I only had three sessions with them and that was enough to give me migraines, heartaches and deep disappointment at the realization of how deep was the rot and how impossible is the uphill climb to make things right in our education system that has gone so wrong.
Some examples of their work:
The PhD student wrote: 4a) Beautify (V) – My dad beautified the garden with the new buy Christmas tree.
The Dean's Award winner wrote: d) considerately (Adv) - He is considerately scolding me by raising up his voice.
The other 25 year old graduate wrote: 4)Competitively(adv)-Rapidly growing in technologies had make the industry competitively.Shocking, isn't it? Sadly, not only are they unable to write properly, they cannot articulate themselves orally as well. Sighs.
Two months ago, I asked my students @ a local college to write four sentences on their favourite food. The first sentence must be the topic sentence followed by three supporting sentences. One girl, who scored 8As in the recent SPM, wrote:
I nearly had a heart attack! I asked her if she was writing about drama class and then she showed me a chopping motion and I realized she meant MINCE the chicken.My favourite food is chicken burger.First you must mimic the chicken.
Someone else wrote in another situation: The bus has just passed away.
No kidding!
I am in no way belittling them but am highlighting this as evidence of how the education system is in such a deplorable and disgusting state! My dear Angela has been bugging me to collect all these anecdotes to write a book. Maybe I should. :-( But I have not, because it is heartbreaking to see such developments.
How many people are truly aware of the terrible state of affairs? How many leaders are lobbying to ensure that we have the best teachers who are thinking citizens themselves?
As for those who are sent overseas to study medicine under the PSD scholarship, how many actually pass and how many fail a few times? Not all scholars are up to the mark. This is largely due to the questionable marking standards, poor quality in teaching and syllabus.
The point I am trying to make is that it is a waste of public funds to even offer so many scholarships when quality is lacking in our education.
Instead of wasting money on dishing our scholarships:
The authorities MUST raise the bar - failure to do so will lead to an accelerated decline in education standards and poor quality of labour in our country which will make us lose out in the long run to other neighbouring countries.
A major overhaul is needed in:
a) The teaching methods, training, syllabus, textbooks for:
* English
* Mathematics
* Science
* BM
* History
* Moral
- at primary, secondary and tertiary level - even at teachers' training colleges. Those who fail Mathematics should not be allowed to join teachers' training colleges.
b) A major overhaul in the public examination marking scheme, standards and they MUST incorporate the components of Bloom's taxonomy.
c) A major overhaul in the way schools are being managed.
d) A major overhaul in the way teachers are being trained at teachers' training colleges. Those who do not pass Mathematics should not be given admission!
e) Raise the bar for university entrance requirements for both students and faculty members and put a stop to plagiarism. There have been cases where faculty members/tutors/PhD students steal the works of others just to attend conferences. Disciplinary action should be taken but to date, what has been done?
f) Implement ISO standards and methods in pedagogy, methodology etc.
g) Put to death discrimination in schools and all other institutions of higher learning
h) Create a slot for critical thinking skills which should be make a compulsory subject
i) have stringent methods of control for the quality of textbooks and workbooks so that no Tom, Dick or Harry can be an author who writes just to make $$$. The proliferation of the workbook mentality has indirectly put to death the thinking mind
j) class observations should be implemented
k) all the pen pushing, form filling B.S. should be stopped.
l) assessment methods should be completely revamped
m) Oral and aural methods of assessment should be implemented
etc etc etc
And as a result of such a depressing state of affairs, some pay through their noses to send their children to elitist schools or international schools just to make sure that their kids have the edge. However, this is not necessarily the best solution. Of course, the family must ensure the right learning environment for their children and be taught to think. Far beyond all this, we must realize that it is the responsibility and duty of the government to provide us with a good education system for ALL.
So sorry for this rant. I am fed up and am so glad I am in retirement. I do not have much money left but I have a treasure chest of wonderful memories of students I taught from 1986 to 2005. Most of them have a Masters degree or two from blue chip universities such as UCLA, Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Melbourne University, Bath University, King's College, UCL and quite a few have either completed their doctorate degrees. At the point of writing this post, my former student J.B. whom I taught in 1994 is currently finishing her PhD in medicine @ UCL and another student whom I taught in 1996 is finishing her PhD in University of California at Fresno. One of my students is even listed in Wikipedia.
From 2005 till now, I have only met ONE good student. Very sad. I shudder when I am invited to lecture or to teach. It is no longer a joy to do so but an ordeal because of the horrible scenario.
So will the system continue to delude us and to achieve a hidden agenda? Tell me, is it worth mollycoddling our students with sub-standards in our education system?
Do they really care for this nation and her future?
KoSong Cafe Yes, we can continue to delude ourselves by lowering the acceptance requirements, pass those undeserving students (because of pressure from above, who in turn are being pressured from politicians), and live happily ever after.
There are some people who criticize those who insist on good English for being elitists. Though we can still communicate with our Manglish and hopefully, get jobs done, we should strive to improve ourselves so that the company or institution we represent can be proud of the text shown, in for example, our letters, brochures and websites. How we speak will affect our employer's image too.
Besides image, good language skill is required for effective communication. Poor spelling or pronunciation could lead to mistakes and miscommunication, which can be embarrassing as well as costly.