I love ‘comparative education’ module. The module is awesomely inspiring and yet makes me feel intimidated because of my own Malaysian education system. Why? Me, feel inadequate, of Malaysian education system? Honestly, after comparing and learning about other country’s education system, Malaysian education is too idealistic. Far from achievable target. They are running for things that they can’t catch.
There’s a Malay proverb which goes “Yang dikejar tak dapat, yang dikendong berciciran”. It means, you can’t get things that you chase, and you are losing things that you carry. Example, we are trying to make younger Malaysian competitive in scientific field, by making them learning Mathematic, Science and Technology subject, in English. That’s not a bad idea though but please, be realistic. There are many whose English proficiency level is below average. Plus, about 2 over 3 primary schools in Malaysia that do not get basic facilities (basic facilities = electricity, phone lines, and clean water). But why on earth we neglect these schools?
An excerpt from DSAI’s article:
Meskipun kerajaan telah merwarwarkan Sekolah Bestari selama lebih sedekad, Pelan Induk Pembangunan Pendidikan telah mendedahkan bahawa hampir 20% daripada sekolah-sekolah rendah kita tidak mempunyai bekalan air bersih; hampir 35% tiada makmal komputer; lebih dari satu perlima tiada makmal sains dan satu persepuluh tidak mempunyai bekalan elektrik sempurna. Secara keseluruhannya, lebih dua pertiga sekolah rendah tidak mempunyai kemudahan yang lengkap. Ini merupakan tambahan kepada pendedahan YB Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail di dalam suratnya kepada Menteri Pelajaran bertarikh 13 Disember 2006 bahawa peratusan perbelanjaan pendidikan kita ketinggalan berbanding Senegal, Malawi dan Kenya di samping kita tergolong di kalangan 24 negara termasuk Palestin dan Maldive yang menghadapi kemerosotan enrolmen sekolah rendah antara 1999 hingga 2004.
Imagine, that God make you born in rural area and experience difficulties in getting necessities. Just imagine. Imagine their fate is yours. So, how on earth you want them to learn science, math and english, plus technology? Even necessities is far from their imagination. I would say, the money should go to these people, because they have rights to get decent education.
We want to develop Malaysia, but we don’t develop the people. So who are going to continue the legacy later? So before we develop the country, develop the human resource first, make them love Malaysia, don’t lose Malaysian elites to the developed country (US, UK, Singapore, etc).
US and UK achievement is better, although they don’t have bombastic policy and national education of philosophy. Obviously because they target what they can achieve and develop the people who can develop the country.
Further reading: KEITH LEONG’s article
PS: Er, can I use this piece for my assignment?
