RE-BUILDING MALAYSIAN EDUCATION

By Stephen Ng I find it amusing that Education Minister, Maszlee Malik has offered to meet up with Malaysiakini’s columnist FA Abdul. He has even suggested that the meeting be broadcast “live” on Facebook, but I do not think FA Abdul needs that kind of publicity when the spotlight should be on the minister himself. I would like to turn the table around on Maszlee. If he is unable to accept criticisms and learn from public comments, he has indeed failed the test of humility. I, for one, wanted to write about the cashless payment system in schools but due to work commitment, I dropped the idea. I think this is the last thing any minister should spend his time on. My children only gets RM2 to RM3 a day. Theft is only a minor problem, and to help them, I teach them to keep the money in a safe place. What’s the problem? One other reason I did not write is because I have become immune to yet another of Maszlee’s “out of the blue” ideas. Did he not previously suggest

Stop harping about scholarships given to Palestinian youths By Stephen Ng A banner circulated widely on chat groups complain that Palestinian youths are given scholarships, while local students, especially the non-Malays, get crumbs. I have been observing a certain trend when one issue after another issue is played up to create people’s dissatisfaction against the ruling coalition. While I have expressed my disgust with education minister, Maszlee Malik over his insensitive remarks lately, and have urged him either to resign or face the sack over his incompetence as a minister, we have to be fair to him. Giving scholarships to foreigners is a good initiative if we believe that the world is indeed a global village. It is better that the youths from Palestine are given a good education than to be recruited by terrorists to carry out their agenda. Before this, the private universities have also given ASEAN scholarships to deserving students in other ASEAN countrie

Be flexible with 1Murid 1Sukan By Stephen Ng As a parent-stakeholder, of course, I want the best for my children’s education, not only academically but also in all aspects of their personal development. In fact, I believe I am speaking on behalf of thousands of parents, especially in urban cities, who send their children to all sorts of extra-curricular activities outside the school. For example, kids go for music classes, swimming lessons, ballet, singing, public speaking, speech and drama, debates, tennis, golfing, archery, or even their preferred martial arts, which are not offered in schools. This allows them to pursue and develop their area of interest, while at the same time help to develop their character, self-confidence and leadership skills. For my family, the weekends are the busiest time of the week, as my wife and I have to ferry them around. I am sure many other parents do the same for their children. Not every activity offered by the schools i

The letter written by " Selangor Teacher " praising Education Minister, Dr Maszlee Malik is indeed ticklish to say the least. As a parent, I have been following closely on the education issues in our government schools. It is unfortunate that I have to give Maszlee an "F" for his performance in the past one year.  Let me elaborate so that he and his people will be more focused on the real issues instead of operating in a bubble.  FIRSTLY,  one can craft out the most beautiful policies but when it comes to implementation, if it is not done correctly, it will flop.  I have  written  at great length my complaints about the 1Murid, 1Sukan policy after several letters to Maszlee were unattended to.  A simple request to ask on behalf of parents whose children are attending a church-based uniformed group has dragged on for a year now. What is so difficult to give these children the exemption so that they do not need to attend another uniformed group i

Streaming: Think carefully before you speak, Maszlee By Stephen Ng The latest talk in town about our education minister, Maszlee Malik focuses on the decision to abolish the Science and Arts streams. I have no problem with that but, with what we have heard from Maszlee himself about the black/white shoes and hotels offering their swimming pools as their corporate social responsibility, I am just worried that the combining of curricula, like the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, if not done properly, will cause our education system to fall apart. Great ideas will not necessarily bring about the positive results if we fail at the implementation stage. Apparently, Maszlee and his deputy, Teo Nie Ching is not in touch with the real issues affecting our government schools. The cooperation of the teachers to help achieve the desirable results has yet to be seen, but in the past, we have seen that the ministry can issue a certain directive or guideline, but o

By Stephen Ng It is not very helpful when the Deputy Minister of Education, Teo Nie Ching allowed the Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) to decide on whether computer classes can be conducted during school hours. This clearly shows that Teo is either unaware of the numerous issues with PIBG in schools, or she is aware, but willing to play along with the PIBG. If the latter is true, it is legacy and impression that she will leave behind which is inconsistent with Malaysia Baru. It is no wonder that even writer, Mariam Mokhtar says, after the 14th General Election, the " DAP plays the "Three Monkey" -- deaf, blind and mute. " Only a few people such as the DAP stalwart, Lim Kit Siang speak up against injustice, race based politics and attacks on religion. Repeatedly, I have urged the Ministry of Education to tighten the control over the PIBG, as the association has often been used as a rubber stamp for school principals. School principals love to have c