tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015643236189571024.post6272579777608392288..comments2023-08-13T22:17:51.460+08:00Comments on Against the wind: Edge Education Forum, the what and the whytongkooionghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06882389221773346482noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015643236189571024.post-7491493609520297482014-01-19T11:53:29.164+08:002014-01-19T11:53:29.164+08:00It's great that the Edge facilitated the recen...It's great that the Edge facilitated the recent Education Forum. Many people have harped on the core issue is due to language of instruction which I feel is misplaced. Quality will still be the most important issue. Nobody talk about the quality of the Malaysian Chinese Independent Schools which have remained top notch while our national schools are languishing and they use Mandarin as the medium of instruction. Proficiency in English is definitely a plus if one is good but not a real set back if one is lacking in it as long as the academic quality is maintained. Just look around in countries like Germany, Netherlands, China etc where academic quality is not being compromise and English is not the medium of instruction.<br /><br />Back in the mid 80's when I was still a university lecturer in one of the local national universities, I already could foresee this decline in educational standards which could only accelerate with time. I had the experience of observing practical teaching by students doing Education degrees. Due to the NEP policy, many bumiputra students were given scholarships to do education degrees and sad to say many of them were not only academically not prepared for such a course or vocation but also not motivated, even before they entered the real world of teaching.<br /><br />It's extremely sad as there were many of us, who returned from well known universities, at that time all ready to serve the country by entering the academia. Due to the political interference in the education system, many left to teach in neighbouring countries or worked in the private sector. So today, even the quality of university teaching staff is questionable as many qualified Bumiputras are working in the private sectors.<br /><br />Education should not be for profit which like political interference will lead to compromise in standards in order to maintain profits. A good model will be the American private colleges / universities which were set up with donations that help to supplement the operating costs. The Asian Women Leadership University project (http://awluproject.org/ , to be located in Penang) is structured based on this model and seeking for financial support. <br />SH Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01514669802456159248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6015643236189571024.post-71259986438527504442014-01-17T16:14:21.454+08:002014-01-17T16:14:21.454+08:00When will we learn? Just look at the Proton issue....When will we learn? Just look at the Proton issue. Look at the MAS issue. Now, look at our Education issue. The sad fact is that we never learn to be responsible. When I say we, I am referring to the government. Even though they know there is a rotten apple is kept among the good apples, they do not have the will to throw it away, at the expense of causing other good apples to turn bad. Education existed for hundreds of years, learn from the best. The cause of the problem is that we refuse to learn from the best. We can debates this issue until the cows comes home, until the root of the problem is figured out, well, we can continue to debate. Until we practice meritocracy, I am afraid, debates will remains debates. Nothing will change, this is not the first day we become aware that our Education system is not up to mark. The sad part is the majority of less fortunate children will not get the quality education they deserve.yauwenchinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04826275608822769132noreply@blogger.com