Disappointed at how our education turned out

Published on: Sunday, September 22, 2019

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WHAT are the objectives of education? What do we aim to achieve in primary school? The 3Rs – reading, writing and arithmetic – of course. But as we need to move in tandem with the increasingly challenging world, other subjects need to be incorporated, including science (basics of how things are and how they work), moral studies (to inculcate noble values), environmental studies (to enable children to appreciate what we have and the need to conserve and preserve them) and computer literacy (to keep abreast of advancements in technology).

Hence, as far as primary education is concerned, it should be confined to Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mathematics, Science, Moral Studies, Environmental Studies and Computer Literacy.

Other subjects deemed helpful should be offered as electives. I am very sure that if these subjects are well taught throughout the primary years, students would be soundly equipped for their secondary and tertiary education. I was educated in the 50s and 60s, and I was a teacher from 1971 to almost 2000. I am still involved in teaching in a way that enables me to see how students are being taught these days. My school was in a small town and had just one graduate teacher who taught Mathematics and Science. Although his teaching was far from satisfactory, the students, including me, did very well.

Having been a student as well as teacher, I feel very disappointed with the developments in our education system. I do not have a PhD or masters degree, but the years of teaching and my association with students have enabled me to see how bad the whole situation is. Education is meant to prepare our younger generation sufficiently well for the job market.

Hence, whatever is taught in schools must be applicable and useful to them in their preparation for life as adults.

We should educate children in a manner that fosters love for learning and explore ways to make it fun. Once we can inculcate a love for learning, they will want to learn more. The curriculum should also relate the concepts learnt with applications in the real world to enable students to understand the relevance of what is being taught.

Pakatan Harapan should take this opportunity to overhaul the whole system, starting with the curriculum. Set up a system that is applicable to all races and improve the quality of teaching too.

I would strongly urge those in power to look into the quality of our textbooks, i.e. the way concepts are presented and the quality of presentation. The Education Ministry should look into these critical issues first instead of trivial matters like the colour of shoes for pupils.

YLP