FEB 6 — Please allow me to bluntly criticise our ever-changing education policies.
Every time when there is a new education minister, there must be changes made, including the so-called education reform.
The slogan of education reform is indeed very good to use. Changes can be made by simply giving an instruction. As a result, it troubles the teachers, worries the parents and causes smile to fade from the children’s faces.
From the ‘80s until now, we have had a lot of education reform policies, including the 3M system of reading, writing and calculating; abacus arithmetic; mental arithmetic; grade skipping system and teaching science and mathematics in English. These policies are now over, leaving only helpless laments, surprising faces, as well as a confused future.
However, the voices calling for education reform continue. It always reappears with a beautiful packaging and many children have ended up as “guinea pigs” and victims of education reform.
Would setting the enrolment age for primary school at six years old another round of the so-called education reform?
Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the ministry wants to “collect views”. As expected, a huge controversy started between the supporting and opposing parties.
Those who agree with it said the younger children are enrolled in schools, the earlier they can start working. It can reduce family financial pressure earlier and at the same time help to improve the country’s competitiveness. Why not then as it can serve multiple purposes at once?
On the other hand, those who do not agree with it said they are actually “spoiling things with excessive enthusiasm”. If it is implemented, they will create a group of premature children that may bring a massive negative impact.
As for those who neither favour nor oppose, they have recommended that the government adopt a set of scientific testing standard to rigorously select children who are really suitable to be enrolled earlier, instead of allowing all children to be enrolled at six years old regardless of whether they are mentally suitable.
All of their arguments are reasonable and it depends on the education minister whom he wants to listen to.
We have encountered a lot of problems in the education field. We are having constant controversies and chaos as education reform is being blindly implemented. It is either being interfered by politics and those with bad intentions or spoiled by arbitrary decision-makers, who refuse to listen to the people’s opinions, pay no respect to professionalism and violate academic freedom. As a result, education reform is either not being properly carried out or even being badly ruined, causing parents to completely lose confidence.
Setting the enrolment age for primary school a year younger is indeed a major change that will trigger a lot of problems. It involves not only the question of whether six-year-old children are mentally suitable to be enrolled, but curriculum reform, textbook revision and the transition from primary schools to secondary schools as well. How could they change on a whim?
Any reform requires a clear sense of direction, as well as a detailed method and plan. May I ask where is our direction? What is our method? What about a specific plan? — mysinchew.com
* This article is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
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