There is now overemphasis on the need for graduates to get
jobs. We are not encouraging them to be self-employed.
Universities are asked to produce employable graduates, not those
who can stand on their own feet or make critical decisions. If this is
the case, we will not be able to compete with Western countries.
Over the years, we have also adopted a different philosophy. Now
there is a tendency not to fail a student. If we produce graduates
who are half-educated, what will they be able to do outside?
In the early days of UM, only about 25 per cent of students would
pass, now it is almost 100 per cent. Of the 30 students who made
up the first batch of UM’s engineering course, only five passed.
Full article if the interview is currently available at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Monday/National/20061016084710/Article/index_html
This statement this about the decline in standard and the passing level that has gone down got me thinking about the causes of this decline. While politicians argue over funding, argue over the method the THES used in its evaluation, etc. My thought is simple....."garbage in, garbage out" - The quality of the students entering local universitiies is are fed in from our schools - where there from 7 years ols (Primary 1) are basically "spoon-fed", not thought to think and above all very exam orientated.
Perhaps it is time we look at (seriously look at) the entire primary and secondary education system. Our Minister of Education has promised us "blueprint" for education reform. Sometime in July 2006 Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein stated that an ambitious and mammoth Education Blueprint "is a step away from being unveiled". I have not seen it anywhere.
The objective of the Blueprint is to meet the goals highlighted in the 9th Malaysia Plan - rejuvenate national schools, reduce the knowledge gap between rural and urban areas, strengthen the quality of the curriculum and uplift the teaching profession. On top of that the Ministry wants to ensure that "there are no more dropouts, students who cannot read, write or count, and those who have no information technology and communication (ICT) skills."
In the recent National Budget announcements, I have shared my thoughts in FamilyPlace - perhaps it is time for our Honourable Minister to spend more time look indepth into our education system and spend less time waving kris' and engage in unnecessary, non-education related activities.
jobs. We are not encouraging them to be self-employed.
Universities are asked to produce employable graduates, not those
who can stand on their own feet or make critical decisions. If this is
the case, we will not be able to compete with Western countries.
Over the years, we have also adopted a different philosophy. Now
there is a tendency not to fail a student. If we produce graduates
who are half-educated, what will they be able to do outside?
In the early days of UM, only about 25 per cent of students would
pass, now it is almost 100 per cent. Of the 30 students who made
up the first batch of UM’s engineering course, only five passed.
Full article if the interview is currently available at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Monday/National/20061016084710/Article/index_html
This statement this about the decline in standard and the passing level that has gone down got me thinking about the causes of this decline. While politicians argue over funding, argue over the method the THES used in its evaluation, etc. My thought is simple....."garbage in, garbage out" - The quality of the students entering local universitiies is are fed in from our schools - where there from 7 years ols (Primary 1) are basically "spoon-fed", not thought to think and above all very exam orientated.
Perhaps it is time we look at (seriously look at) the entire primary and secondary education system. Our Minister of Education has promised us "blueprint" for education reform. Sometime in July 2006 Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein stated that an ambitious and mammoth Education Blueprint "is a step away from being unveiled". I have not seen it anywhere.
The objective of the Blueprint is to meet the goals highlighted in the 9th Malaysia Plan - rejuvenate national schools, reduce the knowledge gap between rural and urban areas, strengthen the quality of the curriculum and uplift the teaching profession. On top of that the Ministry wants to ensure that "there are no more dropouts, students who cannot read, write or count, and those who have no information technology and communication (ICT) skills."
In the recent National Budget announcements, I have shared my thoughts in FamilyPlace - perhaps it is time for our Honourable Minister to spend more time look indepth into our education system and spend less time waving kris' and engage in unnecessary, non-education related activities.
No comments:
Post a Comment