What's wrong with our education system?

I posted a comment on Education Malaysia here and I though I would post and share this and add a little more to it.

Our education system has chugged along over the past 40 years on "auto-pilot" mode. Problem is, its a 40 year old plane that has no auto-pilot capability! If we go on this way, there is only one direction it will go to. Some people have bailed out into private schools, learning centers and homeschooling. 

On the surface there are just too many problems. I think, the real problem is leadership or lack of it! With occasional policy speeches and grand launching of policies, politicians and businesses taking the opportunity of providing products & services to the schools, nothing is really happening.

We need decisive and knowledgeable leadership who can engage all stake holders, not provide mere lip-service! 

We need leadership that know and can formulate policies in line with global economic, technological and social development. Having said this, a deep rethinking of schools needs to be done. Like learning, we need to go beyond the limitations of our minds. Education need to go beyond schools.

For the sake of our children, change need to happen!

I don't even want to talk about the issue of teaching maths and science in English. We need to really go beyond that, waybeyond!  One of my fundamental belief is that parents need to take a more pro-active role. Proactive to question and drive improvements to our education systems and even take things into our own hands. Sadly, there is not much time. Each time changes are made to the system, one to two generation of our children suffers. Drastic actions needs to be taken, we needed to bail out children out from this 40 year old plane!  This is one reason why we homeschool, for those who kepe sending us emails asking us why. 

But we need to still fix it. Speak up, blog up, bring concerns to the PTA, write to the Minister (if that is any help), engage your local Parliment Representatives. Even join politics to make the change. 

Don't forget to spend time with your children, be there for them, read with and to them. Education is in a big part coming from us parents.

For their children and theirs because this is our home and will be the home for our children and theirs and theirs..... 

Pseudo-democracy

Is Malaysia a Democracy or Pseudo Democracy?

Got this from a book Wai Leng's currently reading and reflecting on the political events unfolding. I believe that we are living in a Pseudo-democracy.

I would call pseudo-democracies, where electoral  participation or representation is hampered by economic or educational disadvantage, by racial or sexual bigotry, by unequal access to funds for the escalating cost of campaigning, or by voter apathy caused by disillusion with the corrupted process.

Robin Morgan, "The Demon Lover: The Roots of Terrorism", Piatkus,1989

The situation has a strong implication on the quality of our lives and the future of our children. This means that we either go with the flow and adopt an apathic attitude. We could participate or support movements to help make a a change to democracy. Of course, there are those who could afford it, leave the country - walk or run away!

What would you do?

Winning by DEFECT....

Some win by default, but there are those who win by DEFECT(ION).

This is what I think about Perak - DEFECTIVE victory.  It's not really winning but who cares, some are celebrating. During this defective celebration, some made money on Gamuda shares while others take to the streets. There are those of course who mourned (see picture below).

source: Malaysian Insider

Whatever it is, we need to find to enjoy the little things in life, does this video remind you of someone?

Enjoy.

May peace come to PERAK soon.