1. As a student, I would say yes. The reason why I am saying this is because, just look at our student, and you would say? Okay, just keep it for yourself for the time being. Before I could continue, I would like to share some of the schools that I went to back then:
- Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Tai Tong (Sabah)
- Sekolah Sungai Koyan 1 (Pahang)
- Sekolah Kebangsaan Kajang Utama (Selangor)
- Sekolah Menengah Sains Tengku Abdullah (Pahang)
- Stromlo High School (Canberra, Australia)
- Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kajang Utama (Selangor)
- Sekolah Menegah Sains Alam Shah (Kuala Lumpur)
Problem 1 : Students often are required to memorise facts and formulas in their class
2. Alright, looking at the fact that this system is actually dripping every capacity out of your cerebral cortex. From primary school onward to the tertiary level, we've all been taught to memorise facts, formulas, names, dates etc. Only by remembering these informations will you score Aces in your exams. I remembered during form 4 and form 5, teachers were handing out answer papers so that we could memorise the text, and 'muntahkan balik' during the exams.
3. For the sekolah rendahans, they will then be tested with the memorising skills through multiple choice questions and short answer type of questions. For the sekolah menegahans, student were taught to memorise some Bahasa and English essays. They claimed to be the most effective and easiest way to score A in the essay papers. Apart from the language papers, we were also given the same 'antidote' for biology, physics, chemistry, history etc, months before your final exams?
4. Another question for us to ponder is, how many smart people do the system produces each year? How come there are no smart Malaysians who invented good cars, who built sustainable industries, who lead us with dignity and respect, who come out with real solutions for today's social problems, who fight and would die for the country? The result, students who are really good in memorising but don't know how to apply their skills and knowledges to solve tomorrow’s problem.
Proposal 1 : Restructure the system for future benefits
5. Maybe people would say that, they are still young, we should go easy on them. But I personally don't agree with this kind of mentality. The thing is, we need to restructure our education system so that students could know how, why and which to use in life apart from excelling in their exams (which we were told that it is the only thing to excel on).
6. Memorising is good, but understanding is better. Education should be based on this concept. For example, there should be more 'kerja amali's and 'real' projects. Plus, students should be encourage by teachers and parents to come out with brilliant but simple ideas on projects to help them understand more on the subjects. This will surely be a two ways communication system, rather than a one way, where the grown-ups think that they know it all.
7. Field trips and outdoor classes too should be encourage. We understand more when we see things. By doing all this, Malaysians students, I mean you, your younger sister, brother, Auntie Salmah's daughter and Uncle Lim's son could see the world in a new perspective. A perspective that might help with their understanding, and to groom them to be an innovative, a smart, an honest and an understanding Malaysian for the future.
To be continued