Monday, November 06, 2006

Our Children Getting World-class Education

In the (NST Nov 5, 2006, see below), it is heartening that Associate Professor Peter Knapp said with a local education, Malaysian students can get into any university in the world. But do we need someone to tell us something we already know? What would be interesting to know would - how many of the 35,000 students who took the test actually did well. I guess we will only know in early 2007, if you refer to the EAA Website.

Malaysian students have gone to world-class universities before and I am sure this will trend to continue. Surely do not need someone to tell us something we already know. What we would really like to see achieve is that more of our local student gain admission into world-class universities (and of course, return home after that).

Most importantly I feel would be the ability of our local universities to be world-class. It would really be good if someone could tell us that we are, at least, on the way there.

Click here to see the NST Report

20,000 Year Six Pupils Can't Read or Write Well: Part 2

In the recent newspaper article in the Star (Nov 5, 2006, see below for article). It is heartening to note that the CDC has actually gone ahead with the program to help Year 6 students to read and write well. While this effort is a major step ahead and I stand corrected that this is NOT an opportunity for someone's name and picture to appear in the papers but a good effort.

However, I would still like know what the long term plan of such action. It would good if we can address some of the following:
(a) What went wrong in the teaching approach that for five years from Year ONE to Year FIVE, if any, that arises this problem in Year SIX.
(b) Should such programs be introduced in, say, Year Three instead?
(c) Why is there no recoginition of learning disabilities, and effective ways be addressed them?
(d) What is the update on the pilot program to address in dyslexia - supposedly in 30 schools nationwide?

Time to keep moving forward.

Click here for News Article

K V