INTERCONNECTIONS. Everything is connected, somehow.
Article 26.3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children." But parents will not willfully choose a bad education for their children unless they had no choice due usually to poverty. Ultimately I don't think anyone cares what language their children's schooling is in as long as it's good schooling.
'There should be an intellectual renaissance to open up and liberate the minds of students, and this should start in the universities, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“Our education system must change. Our children are just not curious enough. They must be curious about the world. They must ask questions,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
In a separate report, the Vanakkham Malaysia reported:
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has called on universities to focus more on developing the "intellectual infrastructure" and not just physical infrastructure to make them "a centre of learning of the liberated and inquisitive minds."
Saying that he did not subscribe to the idea of emphasising on physical infrastructures, the deputy prime minister said, universities should move towards an era of intellectual renaissance.
"You got to have not just a university but a quality university, where it is really a centre of learning of the liberated, open and inquisitive minds," he said.
Speaking at the opening of a one-day seminar on "Creating A Blue Ocean in Education and Training Sectors" here today, Najib also called for "a whole paradigm shift" in the country's education system, starting from primary school.
"Our education system must change, the paradigm must change," said Najib at the seminar which was jointly organised by the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) and Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (MAPCU).
"Malaysians are very good at rote learning; they learn very well and they are studious. They spend long hours learning but they are not inquisitive enough.
(emphasis the author's)
I read this as a clear support and encouragement for homeschooling and alternative education. Homeschooling is not about the physical infrastructure, it is about the emotional and intellectual infrastructure. I may also add spiritual infrastructure as well. It is about a more holistic learning environment and it definitely represents a "paradigm shift".
I hope he means what he says and make every effort tomove political will to make the change.
Perhaps, it is time to Learn Beyond Schooling!
However, there is a glimmer of home when Wai Leng and I were in Ipoh recently to talk to homeschoolers and potential homeschoolers. What brought us all together were our children and our concern about their future. We, do not need to fight the system but instead thread a separate
path of alternative education. Moving the goal-post as it were. Most of us have given up hope on the current education system already.
We are not happy to merely "out-source" this critical function. It is sad that our world is moving so fast ahead in all aspects while our leaders here are still squabbling of what language to use to teach science and maths! The situation is so bad that even our education ministers (past and present) do not believe in it anymore. I am glad that glad that some of us do not need to worry about this anymore. Perhaps this is our contribution to social change. With our kids leading the way, it compels parents like to be empowered to take a greater responsibility in the education process of our children.
Something can be done and people are doing it. Most parents walked out happier and saw that they were not alone. If we all (squabbling leaders included), think of their children and sincerely want to do something for them, we probably will not be in this political mess we are in right now.
Our children can truly unite and motivate us, if we allow it.
FamilyPlace's Learning Beyond Schooling seminar Started. An interesting afternoon ahead.......
