Its NOT the End.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20071002-28162.html
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20070926-27077.html
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20070926-27070.html
" Aiya, your boy from EM3? No future ah! "
" Go ITE? Its The End you know?! "
To start with, lets us recall one successful local movie that hits the raw nail in society's out right discrimination for the less academically inclined students : I not Stupid. Well, the main aim in streaming students and categorise them into EM1/2/3 was to help students cope better with studies. The whole idea was to put students with the same pace of learning together so that the curriculum can be formulated to best cater to their abilities. This move was to make sure every student is given the best opportunity and help to excel and learn. Not every student learn at the same pace and not everyone is as academically inclined.
However, as touched by the movie " I not stupid", this streaming system created discrimination towards these students as well as segregation among students. Discrimination among peers and parents. Many parents saw EM3 students as stupid just because they are not as academically inclined. The elite students saw themselves as one notch higher and discriminated others. Parents pushed their kids real hard to make sure they make it into EM1. Well, realistically speaking this is human nature. Which parent does not want their kids to do well and be considered one of the elites? Its not before long that students who are less academically inclined see themselves as stupid and dumb as compared to their peers. Lets not deny it, confidence and self- esteem is dampened.
As these students move on to secondary school education, the streaming and banding system continues. Now we've got the Special stream, Express, Normal Academic and Normal Technical. Yes, no repeats needed. We've all been through the system we know the discrimination's existence. Despite this, the whole idea of streaming stands firm. To cater to the capabilities of the students to help them excel and do their best.
When the Institute of Technical Education was setup in an effort to provide a more technical kind of education to cater to the less theory-kind of students, the same discrimination occurred. Many saw an ITE education as " Its the End" for those students. Many think they are a bunch who cannot make it. Till today, some still cast a discriminating look on these students. ( Totally bullshit )
Oh come on! Its time to see these students differently! Today, the Institute of Technical Education is one which is recognised by the international arena to be Singapore's Jewel. The institute has proven to be a successful one in nurturing students who eventually even make it to university. They may have took a longer time, but the made it too no? :) Years ago, many thought polytechnics are for those who can't make it to JCs but look at the situation today! And now look at those who were once considered as dumb by you! Yes, many of them did well under the ITE system and even go further then what people think they can.
With the recent change in the Normal ( A) and (T) system, it is a sign that this discriminatory blanket is thinning. With more efforts put into helping students tap on their capabilities and talents, no one should be considered dumb any more. No, not being as theory-inclined does not mean the person is stupid! Kudos to the changes made and efforts put in. Kudos to the success of ITE.
The shift over the years from a very theory based education system to one which recognises the talents in the less academically inclined is a good one. This goes to show how we've come to recognise that success is not measured just by how academically inclined you are. And I applaud the government when they say all these efforts is to make sure no talent is wasted. Further more, the recent efforts to have specialised officers in schools to help identify dyslexics and to help students with learning difficulties is no doubt a good effort that every single kid is given the full opportunity and help to excel. :) Now I would say we truly possess a world class education system.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20070926-27077.html
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20070926-27070.html
" Aiya, your boy from EM3? No future ah! "
" Go ITE? Its The End you know?! "
To start with, lets us recall one successful local movie that hits the raw nail in society's out right discrimination for the less academically inclined students : I not Stupid. Well, the main aim in streaming students and categorise them into EM1/2/3 was to help students cope better with studies. The whole idea was to put students with the same pace of learning together so that the curriculum can be formulated to best cater to their abilities. This move was to make sure every student is given the best opportunity and help to excel and learn. Not every student learn at the same pace and not everyone is as academically inclined.
However, as touched by the movie " I not stupid", this streaming system created discrimination towards these students as well as segregation among students. Discrimination among peers and parents. Many parents saw EM3 students as stupid just because they are not as academically inclined. The elite students saw themselves as one notch higher and discriminated others. Parents pushed their kids real hard to make sure they make it into EM1. Well, realistically speaking this is human nature. Which parent does not want their kids to do well and be considered one of the elites? Its not before long that students who are less academically inclined see themselves as stupid and dumb as compared to their peers. Lets not deny it, confidence and self- esteem is dampened.
As these students move on to secondary school education, the streaming and banding system continues. Now we've got the Special stream, Express, Normal Academic and Normal Technical. Yes, no repeats needed. We've all been through the system we know the discrimination's existence. Despite this, the whole idea of streaming stands firm. To cater to the capabilities of the students to help them excel and do their best.
When the Institute of Technical Education was setup in an effort to provide a more technical kind of education to cater to the less theory-kind of students, the same discrimination occurred. Many saw an ITE education as " Its the End" for those students. Many think they are a bunch who cannot make it. Till today, some still cast a discriminating look on these students. ( Totally bullshit )
Oh come on! Its time to see these students differently! Today, the Institute of Technical Education is one which is recognised by the international arena to be Singapore's Jewel. The institute has proven to be a successful one in nurturing students who eventually even make it to university. They may have took a longer time, but the made it too no? :) Years ago, many thought polytechnics are for those who can't make it to JCs but look at the situation today! And now look at those who were once considered as dumb by you! Yes, many of them did well under the ITE system and even go further then what people think they can.
With the recent change in the Normal ( A) and (T) system, it is a sign that this discriminatory blanket is thinning. With more efforts put into helping students tap on their capabilities and talents, no one should be considered dumb any more. No, not being as theory-inclined does not mean the person is stupid! Kudos to the changes made and efforts put in. Kudos to the success of ITE.
The shift over the years from a very theory based education system to one which recognises the talents in the less academically inclined is a good one. This goes to show how we've come to recognise that success is not measured just by how academically inclined you are. And I applaud the government when they say all these efforts is to make sure no talent is wasted. Further more, the recent efforts to have specialised officers in schools to help identify dyslexics and to help students with learning difficulties is no doubt a good effort that every single kid is given the full opportunity and help to excel. :) Now I would say we truly possess a world class education system.
posted by Wacki at Thursday, October 04, 2007
1 Comments:
Hi!
My name is Aaron. I am from Malaysia, just across the Causeway. I am an Ontario year 12 student in KL, and was obliged by the nature of one of my courses to come up with a research paper on any topic on issues facing the society in present times. I of course, chose education, as I felt the quality of education is what makes and breaks a country. (Hate to make this comparison, but that's the main reason Singapore progressed much faster than Malaysia, althought the Minister of Edu of M'sia had repeatedly claimed (in denial) in govt-owned media that we have "world-class education system").
I came across your article "It's NOT the End" and was pleasantly surprise I was not alone. I mean, I've been trying to ask my friends on whether there is academic inequality in the present education system but none of them felt that there is a big issue on that. I beg to differ.
I should know. I attended Grade 1 to 11 in Malaysian schools. In Grade 10, the teachers will categorize students into the Art and Science stream. This is where inequality is exacerbated, apart from the ranking system since Grade 1(that was also being used in S'pore).
I started empathizing people from the "weak" classes when I got less academically inclined as I reached grade 10 and 11. I started to question the memorizing system in Malaysian schools. Furthermore, I started to question the system of education. I am inherently inclined to the Art subjects. But, the edu system is in a way such that much of the learning opportunities are available to people of Science classes, who are traditionally perceived as the academically superior ones. Not wanting to lose out on opportunities, I went to Science classes. But hell, the classes conducted weren't superior at all. Being inherently defiant, I made a bold move to detest all forms of memorization and seek an explanation and insight (in lieu of just remembering things) on virtually everything. Much to the exasperation of many teachers who do not have answers to questions that I asked, I shall add.
Grades deteriorated of course. But I am glad I did not adhere to the wrong approach of learning, unlike my peers, who follow blinding the memorization system. And being academically inferior, I realize not everyone from the weak classes are "stupid". They are just being denied all sorts of learning opportunities.
I for instance, was denied a chance to participate in a science project, just because I do not have good grades. My friends from weaker classes do not have the chance to participate in competitions. Teachers do not teach them seriously. All the energy is focused on the academically superior ones. The inferior ones are being labelled as useless, or "no hope". By the time they graduate, they were completely striped off all their dignity, confidence, and inherent brilliance. They were told they cannot make it, are inherent losers and will be a burden to the society.
An education system, which was meant to bring the country forward and reduce unemployment rate, had bring the otherwise. That is the sorry state of education in Malaysia.
Anyways, thanks for reading this though. Just want you to know some of the things you mentioned resonated very powerfully in me. Have a nice day.
If you feel like replying, my email address in phoenixashes.aaron@gmail.com
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