malaysiakini has an interesting article on education. The article asks Why not maths and science in Bajau, Dusun, Iban too? and is a valid one as the latest "flip-flop" is based on the premise that children learn best in their own mother-tongue.
These so-called education policies are not cast in stone and the guy is just being obdurate - two wrongs do not make a right. According to the Malaysian Insider, he has declared that the latest policy is final.
It sounds much like the "Final Solution" of Hitler during WWII. Should we excuse this poor specimen of a Minister of Education as he is clueless? After all he resorted to blackmail and bribery in Manek Urai without batting an eye.
The best overall solution for Malaysia is as follows:
1.teach Math and Science in English at the secondary level
2.improve the teaching of English in primary schools and secondary schools
3.upgrade the quality of the teachers in all schools
4.allow primary schools to operate independently using any medium of instruction as long as they follow approved guidelines for teaching English and BM. Annual budgets will be granted based on student numbers.
But don't be surprised if some of those unemployable graduates are soon recruited to be teachers. For the MoE, that will kill 2 birds with 1 stone. The only collateral damage will be your child's education.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
malaysiakini and what can be learned from the MANEK URAI Results
So PAS managed to retain its seat in Manek Urai and the margin of victory certainly raises a few questions.
According to this malaysiakini article Manek Urai: PAS wins by 65 votes it would seem that many PAS supporters turned against them.
Perhaps some were persuaded by the DPM's bribery/blackmail of giving them a bridge - I am sure in a more law-abiding nation, that guy will be arrested and charged for bribery but over here you know - "Malaysia Boleh."
Furthermore he is also the Minister of Education - so I guess our children will learn that blackmail/bribery is also OK.
So BN almost managed to swing this by-election. Can you guess how much public funds or your taxes have gone to support the BN campaign?
PAS too needs to reassess its own position as recent moves by them to form the "unity" government appears to have had adverse effects on their supporters.
According to this malaysiakini article Manek Urai: PAS wins by 65 votes it would seem that many PAS supporters turned against them.
Perhaps some were persuaded by the DPM's bribery/blackmail of giving them a bridge - I am sure in a more law-abiding nation, that guy will be arrested and charged for bribery but over here you know - "Malaysia Boleh."
Furthermore he is also the Minister of Education - so I guess our children will learn that blackmail/bribery is also OK.
So BN almost managed to swing this by-election. Can you guess how much public funds or your taxes have gone to support the BN campaign?
PAS too needs to reassess its own position as recent moves by them to form the "unity" government appears to have had adverse effects on their supporters.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Before You Send Your KIDS to Study in Singapore....
With the latest FLIP-FLOP in the PPSMI some parents are thinking of sending their children to study in Singapore where the medium of instruction is English for all schools.
Thousands of Malaysians have made the journey south for various reasons. My wife's parents made that important decision to send their youngest son to Singapore way back in the 70s when the medium of instruction was switched in Malaysia from English to BM and I believe that was also the time when Malaysians started in migrate in large numbers before countries like Australia and NZ began their restrictive immigration practices.
My brother-in-law had uncles in Singapore so the trauma was reduced a little but today he is a senior officer in the MoE.
My own family looked to Singapore for education when I took up employment there in 1987 when we had 3 young children. My eldest was in Darjah 3 and she enrolled in SIGS in JB in 1988.
Sultan Ibrahim Girls School was then considered ne of the 2 top schools in JB with the Convent but back then the school buildings looked rather unattractive and had only low rise blocks.
Early on my wife and I planned the switch to Singapore schools and we decided that the eldest daughter would switch over in secondary school.
English is my mother tongue and so the language is not a problem. Besides all our daughters were avid readers and they all write well.
We had to prepare our daughter by using the Singapore revision books that are available in JB. After seeing the thousands of children who brave the Causeway each day, we decided that it was something doable.
For 2 years I coached my daughter in Maths and Science. At times it was trying for both of us as my daughter is playful and I am a little strict but she was admitted directly from Malaysia Darjah 6 into Secondary 1 at the Bukit Panjang Girls School.
If the results are not good enough, they may ask you to start one level lower - ie you have to repeat a year.
Meanwhile my second daughter began her primary education in JB at the Convent but transferred to Qihua Primary in year 2 as she aced their entrance test. She later scored well enough in the GEP to gain admittance into Raffles Girls School where she was exempted from paying their high school fees.
My third daughter started her education in Singapore straight from Primary 1 -we reckon the school welcomed her as her elder sister was their first pupil to succeed in the GEP exams.
Our fourth child also went to Qihua.
My 3 daughters went to JCs and they all have good careers now - one is a civil servant, another a tax accountant in London and the third a doctor in Canada.
Next week, we will attend our son's graduation in Law in London.
By the way, you can mix and match your child's education program to suit your needs.
My son did not take the JC route. We used the A-levels route in JB and he took exams within 15 months before he went to London for studies.
For those considering to send children to Singapore there are both pros and cons like most things in life.
Pros:
1.Education standard is fairly high and most graduates can get jobs.
2.Your children will become fairly mobile and become "international citizens".
3.Develop independence earlier.
Cons:
1.Incur extra costs and still pay tax in Malaysia for education
2.Children will "sever" family ties earlier as they are more distant.
As a parent, you will make a decision in the best interest of the future of your child as you will probably not be around forever for them.
I am willing to help those staying far from Johor as follows:
If you want to buy Singapore revision books that are not available in your Popular book store, I can shop and post to you a selection of Maths, English and Science books so you can assess your child's ability. There is no charge for this service but you pay for the books, postage and packaging.
Send me an email at haroldangus(at)yahoo.com if you want further info. Also please express your opinion on why the government has gone backwards on education by using the poll on the left.
Thousands of Malaysians have made the journey south for various reasons. My wife's parents made that important decision to send their youngest son to Singapore way back in the 70s when the medium of instruction was switched in Malaysia from English to BM and I believe that was also the time when Malaysians started in migrate in large numbers before countries like Australia and NZ began their restrictive immigration practices.
My brother-in-law had uncles in Singapore so the trauma was reduced a little but today he is a senior officer in the MoE.
My own family looked to Singapore for education when I took up employment there in 1987 when we had 3 young children. My eldest was in Darjah 3 and she enrolled in SIGS in JB in 1988.
Sultan Ibrahim Girls School was then considered ne of the 2 top schools in JB with the Convent but back then the school buildings looked rather unattractive and had only low rise blocks.
Early on my wife and I planned the switch to Singapore schools and we decided that the eldest daughter would switch over in secondary school.
English is my mother tongue and so the language is not a problem. Besides all our daughters were avid readers and they all write well.
We had to prepare our daughter by using the Singapore revision books that are available in JB. After seeing the thousands of children who brave the Causeway each day, we decided that it was something doable.
For 2 years I coached my daughter in Maths and Science. At times it was trying for both of us as my daughter is playful and I am a little strict but she was admitted directly from Malaysia Darjah 6 into Secondary 1 at the Bukit Panjang Girls School.
If the results are not good enough, they may ask you to start one level lower - ie you have to repeat a year.
Meanwhile my second daughter began her primary education in JB at the Convent but transferred to Qihua Primary in year 2 as she aced their entrance test. She later scored well enough in the GEP to gain admittance into Raffles Girls School where she was exempted from paying their high school fees.
My third daughter started her education in Singapore straight from Primary 1 -we reckon the school welcomed her as her elder sister was their first pupil to succeed in the GEP exams.
Our fourth child also went to Qihua.
My 3 daughters went to JCs and they all have good careers now - one is a civil servant, another a tax accountant in London and the third a doctor in Canada.
Next week, we will attend our son's graduation in Law in London.
By the way, you can mix and match your child's education program to suit your needs.
My son did not take the JC route. We used the A-levels route in JB and he took exams within 15 months before he went to London for studies.
For those considering to send children to Singapore there are both pros and cons like most things in life.
Pros:
1.Education standard is fairly high and most graduates can get jobs.
2.Your children will become fairly mobile and become "international citizens".
3.Develop independence earlier.
Cons:
1.Incur extra costs and still pay tax in Malaysia for education
2.Children will "sever" family ties earlier as they are more distant.
As a parent, you will make a decision in the best interest of the future of your child as you will probably not be around forever for them.
I am willing to help those staying far from Johor as follows:
If you want to buy Singapore revision books that are not available in your Popular book store, I can shop and post to you a selection of Maths, English and Science books so you can assess your child's ability. There is no charge for this service but you pay for the books, postage and packaging.
Send me an email at haroldangus(at)yahoo.com if you want further info. Also please express your opinion on why the government has gone backwards on education by using the poll on the left.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
malaysiakini and BRIBERY in Manek Urai
How low will the authorities go just to win a by-election?
As low as it gets; it appears from this malaysiakini article in which the voters are being enticed to vote BN.
Your choice - vote PAS or new bridge smacks of pure bribery - it cannot be more explicit than that.
This shows the BN is truly desperate to resort to such a disgraceful tactic.
Taxpayers everywhere have the right to a fair enjoyment of development plans and making them choose like this is a criminal offence - they are being blackmailed into voting for BN.
I suggest PAS lawyers should lodge a police report.
Never mind if the EC or AG sleeps on this - after the next general elections, they can still be held accountable.
As low as it gets; it appears from this malaysiakini article in which the voters are being enticed to vote BN.
Your choice - vote PAS or new bridge smacks of pure bribery - it cannot be more explicit than that.
This shows the BN is truly desperate to resort to such a disgraceful tactic.
Taxpayers everywhere have the right to a fair enjoyment of development plans and making them choose like this is a criminal offence - they are being blackmailed into voting for BN.
I suggest PAS lawyers should lodge a police report.
Never mind if the EC or AG sleeps on this - after the next general elections, they can still be held accountable.
malaysiakini and NAJIB'S 100 Days
The way the MSM went to town and profited from taxpayers' monies with full-page colour adverts suggest that Malaysia is now truly on the road of reforms but this malaysiakini article seems to debunk that impression.
Najib not going to win brownie points suggests that the conditional 20% discount on tolls is somewhat "too little, too late" since the toll agreements have not been fully disclosed nor reduced.
If they really want to reduce the motorists nightmare, I suggest that the government should buy back all the tolled systems in the Klang Valley and introduce congestion surcharges like RM10 per day for PJ and KL and perhaps RM5 in other major towns.
Keep the NSH as a tolled system but remove the automatic toll increases.
If they want to encourage more tourists from Singapore, Johor should buy back the Causeway and Second Link. The former was formerly a low-cost toll but is now part of the automatic toll increases.
The Perak power grab and the latest "flip-flop" on the English issue suggests that the Cabinet is not able to think strategically and for the long term.
Najib not going to win brownie points suggests that the conditional 20% discount on tolls is somewhat "too little, too late" since the toll agreements have not been fully disclosed nor reduced.
If they really want to reduce the motorists nightmare, I suggest that the government should buy back all the tolled systems in the Klang Valley and introduce congestion surcharges like RM10 per day for PJ and KL and perhaps RM5 in other major towns.
Keep the NSH as a tolled system but remove the automatic toll increases.
If they want to encourage more tourists from Singapore, Johor should buy back the Causeway and Second Link. The former was formerly a low-cost toll but is now part of the automatic toll increases.
The Perak power grab and the latest "flip-flop" on the English issue suggests that the Cabinet is not able to think strategically and for the long term.
Friday, July 10, 2009
QUO VADIS with the English Language?
Pardon my using Latin today....
Online polls such as promoted by Dr Mahathir can be misleading as most rural folks probably don't use a computer and even if they did most would not be reading articles written in English.
Someone suggested that some standard tests should have been given to those teachers who got the allowance.
Of course some of them would have passed and claimed that it was the pupils who did not understand English and hence the mish-mash language used.
You see they spent a lot of money on allowances for teachers to become proficient in using English but it seems the results were abysmal!
So now the solution is to spent heaps more taxpayers' monies like RM5bil and even GAPENA have become interested to promote the learning of English via English clubs. That is the usual modus operandi - create a problem and then spend lots of funds on projects that are not transparent or effective.
On a lighter note, not everyone who comes from the UK can communicate in English properly.
Here is a brief exchange of emails with a UK Bed&Breakfast:
My query:
"Guests: 3
Arrival: 21-7-2009 23:50:1
Departure: 24-7-2009 23:50:8
Comments: Coming to Bath with wife and 21yo son.
What can you offer? A double and single room is preferred".
Response:
"I am already full this week.
Very sorry.
Kind regards."
My reply:
"Is your place full on the dates I requested?"
Response:
"Yes!"
From the last reply the writer appears annoyed that I could not understand his last message.
Improving our English standards should not be just to schools and teachers. Parents of course play a vital role like encouraging their children to read. Even the government can do so much more like encouraging the use of English in government departments. English can be recognised as an official language and that would really show that the government is really serious about promoting the language.
Online polls such as promoted by Dr Mahathir can be misleading as most rural folks probably don't use a computer and even if they did most would not be reading articles written in English.
Someone suggested that some standard tests should have been given to those teachers who got the allowance.
Of course some of them would have passed and claimed that it was the pupils who did not understand English and hence the mish-mash language used.
You see they spent a lot of money on allowances for teachers to become proficient in using English but it seems the results were abysmal!
So now the solution is to spent heaps more taxpayers' monies like RM5bil and even GAPENA have become interested to promote the learning of English via English clubs. That is the usual modus operandi - create a problem and then spend lots of funds on projects that are not transparent or effective.
On a lighter note, not everyone who comes from the UK can communicate in English properly.
Here is a brief exchange of emails with a UK Bed&Breakfast:
My query:
"Guests: 3
Arrival: 21-7-2009 23:50:1
Departure: 24-7-2009 23:50:8
Comments: Coming to Bath with wife and 21yo son.
What can you offer? A double and single room is preferred".
Response:
"I am already full this week.
Very sorry.
Kind regards."
My reply:
"Is your place full on the dates I requested?"
Response:
"Yes!"
From the last reply the writer appears annoyed that I could not understand his last message.
Improving our English standards should not be just to schools and teachers. Parents of course play a vital role like encouraging their children to read. Even the government can do so much more like encouraging the use of English in government departments. English can be recognised as an official language and that would really show that the government is really serious about promoting the language.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
malaysiakini Reports TWO Takes on English Policy...
If you read the two articles yesterday in malaysiakini there appears to be divergent views on how TDM views the FLIP-FLOP on the use of English.
According to one article claims Muhyiddin: Mahathir accepts the decision but the other article ... smouldering Dr M hints otherwise.
Of course the policy was changed rather abruptly just before TDM retired but to me if the matter had been brought up for the whole series of discussions, the BM exponents who wield much political influence would have had none of it.
So TDM did the next best thing and forced the change of policy. Unfortunately AAB did not have enough guts and gumption to carry out the necessary changes in the Ministry of Education and teachers were allowed to teach in the mish-mash of English and BM.
Some nieces of mine in Darjah 5 and 6 remarked that teachers were not able to teach properly and at times even asked pupils for assistance!
Such is the quality and calibre of the people who are in charge of our children's education.
A little advice for parents - be sure to get active in your school's PTA. You will discover a world of difference between what the ministry promises in their fancy declarations and the stark reality in schools.
Maybe we should also ask "How come so few non-Bumis get promoted to head schools?"
How much is based on political and racial bias?
According to one article claims Muhyiddin: Mahathir accepts the decision but the other article ... smouldering Dr M hints otherwise.
Of course the policy was changed rather abruptly just before TDM retired but to me if the matter had been brought up for the whole series of discussions, the BM exponents who wield much political influence would have had none of it.
So TDM did the next best thing and forced the change of policy. Unfortunately AAB did not have enough guts and gumption to carry out the necessary changes in the Ministry of Education and teachers were allowed to teach in the mish-mash of English and BM.
Some nieces of mine in Darjah 5 and 6 remarked that teachers were not able to teach properly and at times even asked pupils for assistance!
Such is the quality and calibre of the people who are in charge of our children's education.
A little advice for parents - be sure to get active in your school's PTA. You will discover a world of difference between what the ministry promises in their fancy declarations and the stark reality in schools.
Maybe we should also ask "How come so few non-Bumis get promoted to head schools?"
How much is based on political and racial bias?
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