In Malaysia, education has always been a hot issue, and one primary concern for every parent. Rightfully so, for a "wrong" decision in selecting the right school from age 6 or 7 can doom the child's future, and a "right" decision can lead to a good career and consequently a brighter future. The "kiasu" parents send their children to expensive kindergartens for two or three years, and these "kids" never were given a chance to learn the joys of childhood playing in the green fields. How many of today's young ones can recall laughing in abandon with their neighbourhood friends playing gasing or marbles, and "hide-and-seek", or even reading comics and Enid Blyton at leisure?
Even for the adults, do spend time on guiding the young ones on their educational path, don't leave it to the school, teachers and education officers, for many of them are just as good as one-eyed Jacks ...
I'm sure many parents (English-speaking at home) will be able to narrate some experiences of their children tell theming they had to "correct" the English teacher's language in class, both oral and written. No, this is not baseless poking fun, it's serious business of inadequately trained teachers who land up as round-pegs-in-square-holes!
So this question of the MCA's memorandom to the Government, including a request for more SJKC schools, has deservedly been discussed in the local papers the past week, especially vocally in the Chinese dailies. There will always come a time for crucial decision making at the primary, secondary and finally tertiary levels of education. For those aspiring towards post-graduate studies, it's none of my concern, for they have already arrived, yet I see the government generously extending financial assistance to them and the recipients expect such help as a "birthright". Scholars of any worth for post-graduate studies should be earning scholarships on their own merit. The last point might seem a digression, but there is relevance when the education Budget is not properly prioritised!
The MCA's request is definitely an "education" issue, despite the former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's posturing that is is NOT. I won't delve more into this, but advise readers to read more on at Jeffooi's blog, Screenshots.com, categorised under the "Utusan's Sure Heboh" series.
I am all for democratic discourse, allowing for a chance to address the many ills caused by extensive and pervasive experimentation and politicisation of the Education policy and programmes in Malaysia for the last three decades or more, beginning 1970. Very often Malaysian citizens in general are law-abiding and can take part in well-moderated discussions and debates. Often, it is the politicians (or the media who are proxies to certain political parties) who step in to "muddy" the issue and hijack the topic into something else to serve their narrow, vested interests. The youth wings of certain political parties are particularly inclined to committing such breaches or corruption of issues, and they span both the government and opposition spectrums.
On the other hand, I am glad that some issues that had been hidden in the closet in the past are now being brought out into the open for discussion. All Malaysian citizens, especially parents, are encouraged to take part in such debate and discourse in a rational, and not emotional, manner. We all have an equal stake in this country.
An unemployed graduate -- whether Chinese, Indian or Malay, Iban or Dayak -- creates a burden for the Malaysian society, and any remedies proposed and implemented must apply equally to the unemployed or even, "underemployed" (defined to mean he's holding a job less befitting his qualifications and ability ...) graduate, regardless of ethnic origins.
I am heartened to read a NST, 22 March 2005, report headlined None will be left out in education agenda, says Hisham, in which our Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein has assured that "The Government's efforts to strengthen the national schools does not mean that schools using other media, will be ignored."
"It is time to think of our children regardless of their race and background." (The emphasis is desiderata's.)
"We have to realise that the competition is no longer confined among ourselves in a borderless world. we are competing with other nations as well," he said.
Well said, Mr Minister, I still harbour optimism there's hope yet for the education world in Malaysia, if all Malaysians think about their children's, and grandchildren's future first, above their politicking.
A friend of mine who had been making guitars in his Seremban factory employing six workers from Sabah for some five years had to cease the guitar-making operations two years ago because similar-quality guitars made in China can be imported at half my friend's cost price.
To all the unemployed, or worse yet, un-unemployable, graduates, I recommend you read Thomas Friedman's The Lexus and the Olive Tree. After having digested it, you'd definitely stand a better chance of success at your next job interview. Meanwhile, to improve your English, just read, read and read English literature or newspapers or magazines like the Time or Newsweek, the Asian Wall Street Journal, or maybe even the Straits Times Singapore, all available online. I'm not recommending some local papers because .... (I'd censor myself here because it's not flattering!)
Better still, steal time to visit my humble blog, and I'll try to meet up with your expectations, especially at desiderata.english on Sunday. Chow, meaning "see you again", or "have a hearty meal", oh so Malaysian!
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