Muhyddin has NOT fail our children and schools

The article above refers.

Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin did not fail our children nor our schools although he claimed that he cannot understand why the level of English language among our Malaysian student have declined. He cannot be blamed for the decisions, indecisions or inept decisions of his predecessors.

Our education system at best, is in transition, running on autopilot, lacking in direction.



While schools are worried about the length of hair of students, or who should (or should not) dress in a particular type of school uniform, or indecision about teaching of maths and science in English or the need to strengthen the Bahasa Malaysia, our education is indeed evolving right in front of our eyes.

One such change is the introduction of international education to Malaysians. This introduction has brought about a proliferation of options and opportunities.  We now have the options to opt for Australian Curriculum (offered by Australian International School, KBU International College, KDU Univeristy College, Sunway and Taylor's College). Malaysian who fight so hard for English education can go to the Alice Smith School, Beaconhouse School, The British School of KL, Garden International School, Malborough College Malaysia and many, many others.

There is also the alternative of Canadian curriculum offered by Sunway International school and Taylors College. If for some reasons we do not like the English systems there are the Lycée Français de Kuala Lumpur or the Deutsche Schule Kuala Lumpur. For the undecided, schools like Fairview International School and Mont Kiara International schools that offers International Curriculum (whatever that means). For those who continue to adopt the "look East" policy, Chinese Independent schools are still around. Then there is the overseas option, the choice to send your children straight to a boarding school outside the country. All you need is just money.

If you are inclined to have a more religious education, there is a growing number of religious schools for the Muslims and Christians. We have yet to see the Hindus, Buddhists or other religions coming out strongly in this area, but I think it would be a matter of time.

If you like to opt out of school totally there is the option of homeschooling. Homeschooling has grown many folds in Malaysia over the past ten years and have become a viable option. Even within the homeschooling options, there is the choice of homeschooling at home by the parents or the option to outsource to homeschooling centers. Who can complain that there are no choices?

What we are witnessing today is something very interesting - the disempowerment of learning and education from the institution of education. Due to clear lack of long terms innovative strategy, all the collective decisions and indecisions of the education ministry over the years have led us to this situation. It is heartening to see parents and communities are taking charge of education and learning. While we cannot ensure the quality of education and schooling, the responsibility is now being taken away from the Minister and the Education Ministry.

People who are concerned about the quality of education, I have this to say: remember that like water finding its own level, some level of sanity and quality will prevail in time to come.

We just need to continue to be empowered to make decisions as parents and the community of educators. Alternative education models have been tried and tested. The availability and transformation in learning technologies, pedagogy and approaches are more available to us now. When the element of fear, meaningful, wise decisions can be made. We are seeing this happen right now.

The education ministry, too, have choices. They can truly be innovative and creative. They can choose to understand the transitional trend happening in the world and work together with an enlarged community of stakeholders to evolve their roles. They can, in collaboration with such stakeholders, evolve our education to be truly world-class, giving focus to bring out the potential of our younger generation.

Alternately, the ministry of education can continue to pretend to be in control, organize meaningless event to launching initiatives that pay lip service to creativity and innovation. In this case, the role of the education minister is simple - just remain clueless.