by Dr. Azly Rahman
I read this excerpt of a news story below with disgust.
‘… One-third of Malaysia’s schools do not have water and electricity, a minister said, pledging to fix the problem by 2010….
‘Deputy Education Minister Razali Ismail told Bernama that all 9,806 schools will have access to basic utilities by the end of a four-year education development plan….70 percent of schools already have access to water and electricity. The other 30 percent are mostly located in rural areas, but “we are confident the problem will be solved by 2010″.
…Malaysia has implemented a series of five-year development plans with the aim of reaching developed-nation status by 2020..In the last national blueprint, announced in 2006, the government said RM1.15 billion would be spent to upgrade schools.’
All we continue to hear are slogans such as ’2010′, ‘Vision 2020′, ‘developed-nation status’ and ‘billions of ringgit of funding’.
These cloud our vision of what schools ought to be. It is as if there is a ‘manufactured crisis’ going on: keep schools impoverished so that the government can keep making promises using empty slogans. The aim: only this government can continue to help those poor schools. This is the nature of mystification we have been fed with all these decades.
recall then education minister Najib Abdul Razak making a statement about “smart schools” –
“…that the first Smart School is being built at a cost of RM144.5 million. Apart from being wired, it would have a hostel for 800 students, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a hockey pitch, a hall and other facilities. Eventually all Malaysian schools will be operated on this concept. …”
Now we hear that many schools do not have water and electricity supply, let alone computers to make the schools and students smart. I think our children deserve better than empty promises by the ministry in charge of human intelligence and social reproduction.
What has that ministry done since Merdeka to allow schools to be left in such a state? What paradigm of nationwide school improvement has the ministry been using in order to create such a deformed version of democracy and education?
Is it a strategic plan to ensure that children of the poor will continue to perform the worst under such conditions, and that schools equipped with state-of-the-art technologies are select ones for children of the elite?
No wonder we have an increasing number of Mat and Minah Rempit, Ah Longs and gangsters – they were educated in the most deplorable circumstances perhaps. They were schooled in environments with teachers who are not committed and motivated, but also imprisoned in classrooms that do not have the basic amenities compared to ‘smart schools’.
Overhaul long overdue
It is simply unacceptable for this government to allow class stratification; schools not only become the stratifier of ethnic groups but also of classes of the poor, through the unequal distribution of resources. This is characteristic of the hideous form of schooling in Asian-style capitalist societies.
How can we develop the child’s intelligence to the fullest if schools are designed to fail them miserably?
We must demand the exposure of the conditions of the schools – which schools get access to what and why. We must demand a comprehensive picture on why our schools are failing and unable to produce children smart enough to bring their intelligence, ethics, and problem-solving skills to the university and beyond an succeed in a world that is challenging.
The new governments of the Pakatan Rakyat must undo what the Barisan Nasional (BN) government has done to the most under-privileged schools. They must gather data on what is lacking in the schools and how resources are shared.
Certainly, if the situation has been exacerbated over the last 30 years of BN rule, how are we to see any changes in class and classroom stratification in the next 30 years?
We see many projects like the Petronas Twin Towers, Multimedia Super Corridor, Monsoon Cup and Iskandar Malaysia carried out as fast, so that governmentally-linked companies can make money for the select few.
Why does comprehensive school reform take ages to be implemented? This is the ‘prison-industrial complex’ approach we are taking in implementing national educational policy.
By maintaining the sense of deprivation of the physical, psychological and intellectual aspects of the schools, we hope to produce more of those citizens who will be desperate enough to find ways be and become like the successful ones, but through desperate means.
We are creating a larger underclass tempted by materialism in a system created to encourage conspicuous consumption – these citizens produced out of the smart schools-sick schools system.
What then must we do to heal the system, to make our sick school smarter? This is for the education ministry and progressive parliamentarians to answer.
#1 by cemerlang on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 - 6:14 am
The curriculum must be in line to the aspirations of Malaysia. Say, you want an intelligent Malaysia. What is the point when you allow everyone and anyone to pass just to look good in the report and to give a marvellous report card presentation to the bosses but in actual fact manipulation is done to enable the students to pass ? The manipulators are stupid and are making the education system looks very terminally sick. Smart schools do not come from smart work which is nothing but craftiness. Smart schools actually come from a very honest approach to education. That is how I see a sick school and a smart school. If one is so smart, one should integrate the smart and the sick so that the sick can lean on the smart to become smart themselves. The product of education; the quality of students; the quality of eduction; is more important than what infrastructure there is. One can keep getting 100 marks but if a 50 marks student can be wiser in life, then this 100 mark students should leave you a question mark.
#2 by NewDAP on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 - 9:32 am
We should do away with those racist schools (ie Malay, Chinese and Tamil schools) as these racist schools are producing low standard and unemployable students. Please look around you, most of those low income group, labourers, poor families, hawkers and those involved in vice activities were from the racist schools as most of them not able to read and write properly in English and BM.
Those racist schools also produced most of those malaysians who are racist as in those schools, they seldom or never interact with other races. Most of those employable and high ranking or position malaysians in big organisations or firms are those from Kebangsaan School. That explained why most of the top management, senior managers, professionals, established lawyers and accountants in malaysia who are malaysian can’t read and write in Mandarin or Tamil.
Therefore, we just need to have one type of school for all Malaysians, ie Kebangsaan School or Vission Schools where all races are interact and study together in the school. All students will be allowed or given opportunity to learn mandarin and tamil in the kebangssan school.
Odinary Malaysians only need to learn how to read and write in mandarin or tamil but not necessary have to master it. They only need to master English and BM in order to be employable in Malaysia and to reach the top management level of those big organisations or firms in Malaysia.
#3 by cheng on soo on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 - 9:52 am
NewDAP said what U want, but frankly, Have no respect of ppl in top position who do not know even a little bit of their mother tongue. (or worse despise their mother tongue)
There are also many top lawyers, accountants, engineers, doctors, who can speak mandarin & tamil in Malaysia, just U didnt meet them !
U are branding unfairly, “those racist school” without taking a detail look how they teach their students (syallbus, activiities, civic lessons etc).
Why are there so many racist in Msia? well ,all bcos, gomen is racist, what do U xpect?? (If one acts racist to others, do expect others to behave as racists towrads one!)
#4 by taiking on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 - 10:10 am
Prestige, both its creation and appearance, is our leaders’ main preoccupation.
GAYA MESTI ADA. MATI TADA APA.
Mahathir launched the Multimedia Supercorridor with this line: “A GIFT TO THE WORLD”.
We have (at one point) the tallest building in the world.
The longest this and the biggest that.
And an astronaut too.
No offence to our Mr Astronaut. But really, you have been made a political tool. Its no big deal. Our space program is nothing more than a selection process followed by a training program.
Didnt an american (already in his 70′s) also made it there? Its all about money and the desire for GAYA MESTI ADA.
Now smart school.
Elbert Einstein was never so opportunate.
Neither was Dr Hisham who treated our PM’s wife (deceased) two years ago.
What is wrong with those guys in BN?
Cant they see that they are not getting anywhere?
Its not use making see sense.
We are better off looking elsewhere.
#5 by NewDAP on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 - 10:14 am
cheng on soo,
The fact is, most of those from racist schools are unemployable and they ended up become hawkers, plumbers, contractors and involved in vice.
If you ever been to KL, with exception to doctors, most of the top accountants, engineers, bankers, top executives and lawyers are those from Kebangsaan Schools. why because they are expected to present and write in good english and not half past six english used by those from tamil or chinese schools.
only 1% to 2% of those from racist schools are doing well and most of them ended up become doctors.
but the bulk of it, about 80% are those who failed to get a good employments and ended up become contractors, traders, hawkers or involved in vice activities.
that also explained why most of those involved in vice activities are those from racist schools.
#6 by cheng on soo on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 - 10:48 am
Do respect those hawkers, plumbers, contarctors, wiremen, traders, etc, who earn an honest living. (No respect for those involved in vice)
FYI, I stayed in Selangor (work in KL). I came from one of those schools which U labeled as racist. I can deliver speech in English, BM, Mandarin, Hokkien, and Cantonese (with minimum mixture from other languages). I am also at ease when I went to Japan, Vietnam and Thailand as I also speak a little of their local languages.
#7 by lakilompat on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 - 12:37 pm
The below are unlikely the low income earner in Malaysia
contractors – UMNO cronies company e.g. Curry register a company to charge govt. 1 billion service charge, NS program
traders – UMNO cronies, AP certain motor traders in M’sia are given better priviledges compare to other, more APs.
hawkers – No need submit income tax, depend on taste, if the taste are good, they earn greater than some manager each month, also in cash term.
involved in vice activities – they earn tips, if he or she is a pimp.
#8 by swyoke on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 - 4:39 pm
Agreed fullly with boh-liao’s statement !!
“boh-liao Says:
June 15th, 2008 (2 days ago) at 12: 10.29
Malaysia is well known for manipulating its education system that produces ever increasing numbers of all A scholars at pre-U lelvels and unemployable university graduates.”
Not only that, our hospital is also very sick ..
have you ever been to a hospital with asthma attack and after few hours waiting and consultation asked to go home with parting words – “lain kali jangan datang sebelum mati” .. oh my god..
can’t blame them, can see that they are short of staff !!
#9 by NewDAP on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 - 5:41 pm
cheng on soo,
I do respect them, but I also pitty them for working in a dirty, hard and tough environment.
I don’t think you wanted your children to be a hawker, a contractor or a plumber when they grow up. You surely want them to work in a big organisation, bank or law firm as a professional executive.
Not many people from racist schools are so smart like you able to read and write in so many languages. most of them not able to.
I’m talking about the 70% to 80% who failed to learn proper english because of those racist schools.
Most people only noticed those 1% to 5% who are sucessful but failed to notice those 70% to 80% who did not make it.
The percentage of those from Kebangsaan schools who did not make it are much lower compared to those from racist schools. only 20% to 30% of those from kebangsaan schools are unemployable whereas 60% to 70% of those from racist schools are unemployable.
That explained why there are so many hawkers, contractors, plumbers and those involved in vice are from racist schools.
By sending your children to racist schools, you are reducing their chances to be an executive but increasing their chances of been unemployable and to become hawker, contractor, car mechanic or plumber.
#10 by cheng on soo on Tuesday, 17 June 2008 - 10:21 pm
NewDAP Says:
Today at 17: 41.33
Agreed with U that many from Chinese, Tamil, or Malay schools do not do so well in later career, but strongly PROTEST AND DISAGREE with U to label them (esp. Chinese n Tamil schools) as racist school.
Lack of interaction with other races DOES NOT necessary make one a racist. There are also many racists from Sek. Kebangsaan.
Rather, One become a racist when one is unfairly treated, marginalized by those in power, or one is taught by teachers, parents, elders, from a young age to look down on other race, despise other races. etc
It is no use to have inter-racial interaction, and then, treat the different races vastly differently later in various aspects !
#11 by lakilompat on Wednesday, 18 June 2008 - 4:01 pm
I have been thru Malay school 6 years in primary and 2 years in secondary. The rest of my secondary, pre u and tertiary are all done overseas in various part of the world, in Mauritius, Canada, and Australia.
I can recalled that during those days most of the time we celebrate children there, because the teacher who are suppose to turn up for the class are absent. Also, after the exam, most of the teacher already not coming to teach, ended up, most of the childrens are having fun outside, even catching grasshopper, tadpoles, jungle trekking, soccer, and many more interesting activities when teacher not coming, there are not enough teacher to temporary watch the class. The education system in M’sia is very autocratic mean there is not much room for personal improvement unlike in Canada, they encourage Independent Study Unit, mean the lecturer will recommend u a list of author and novels to read and study the contents, then u will pick one or two to present to the class.
#12 by lakilompat on Wednesday, 18 June 2008 - 4:04 pm
Have u ever notice there are lots of exam tips for PMR, and SPM most of these publisher are Malays companies, who leak the tips?
If it is objective, student just have to memorized the possible answer, what else is there to learn just to get an A. Just buy some of the notes and read. Who benefit from the sales of these notes? Malay company right? who get commission. There are so many students scoring A did u realized that our education system are getting cheap and lacks creativity unlike other countries.
#13 by bngohell on Wednesday, 18 June 2008 - 11:58 pm
There are possible plans underway to apply to the Oxford and Webster to include a new word for their 2009 dictionary:
badawi [baa-daa-wee] (noun): To start something full of promise but end in disappointment, failure and/or disaster.
Eg:
‘I’m trusting you to perform this task well; don’t do a badawi, ok?’
‘Whatever I do, I will always find a way to badawise it.’
France badawied their Euro 2008 campaign. England pre-badawied theirs, while Italy were guilty of over-badawification.
#14 by NewDAP on Thursday, 19 June 2008 - 1:06 pm
1. cheng on soo Says:
June 17th, 2008 (2 days ago) at 22: 21.14
“Agreed with U that many from Chinese, Tamil, or Malay schools do not do so well in later career, but strongly PROTEST AND DISAGREE with U to label them (esp. Chinese n Tamil schools) as racist school.
Lack of interaction with other races DOES NOT necessary make one a racist.”
Agreed with you. I should not use the word racist as it is a bit too harsh.
I retract the word Racist with the word Vernacular.
Another facts, the ratio of Indian professionals/executives over the Indian’s population is much higher than the ratio of Chinese professionals/executives over the Chinese population in Malaysia. That is because only 45% of Indians sent their children to tamil school whereas over 80% of Chinese sent their children to Chinese schools. If the trend continues, in future, Malaysia going to have lesser Chinese lawyers, accountants, engineers and bankers. DAP and LKS, please do something for the Chinese.
#15 by lopez on Thursday, 19 June 2008 - 6:40 pm
“All dress up and no where to go”
Buiild smart schools for smart pockets.
SMART SCHOOLS huh”’even minister children not sent there, maybe boarding schools lah.
for 50 years , those so called academias of malaysia, are dumb and stupid
else why the education system has now improved since 70′s. incidentally thats when the doc initiated the change on medium of instruction and curriculum , and advocating anti colonial sentiments, the txts books change overnight just to meet up, then all green colour started to appear, even male and female toilet signage change from simple and rational sihoute of the sexes to songkok and a hudud figured. At first my malaysian education informed me only muslim toilets are available.
thios went further yet, one group of these little napoleans started put notices that no one allow to wear sleepers when in govt dept, no shorts too.
And what about those buggers all wet , wth sleeves and pants rolled up when attending to you and they are suppose to be on duty.
Unilateral thinkingh i say, no idea of what others feel or think, selficah, arrogant and idiotic if you bising bising.
Regulations , rules, little napoleans , gave them little bit education behave like idiots.
ASSUMING everybody are economically are as stable and secure as they are ,, a bunch of narrow minded idiots.
The civil service suppose to be support machinery not the people support the civil service. after 4 pm and before 8 , these stupid fools dont knpw they are people at large too.
Who serve who.
Knowledge is dangerous but incomplete education is more dangerous.